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Hong Kong - Asian markets were mixed on Thursday as profit-taking tempered the buoyant sentiment fuelled by another record-breaking performance on Wall Street.
Investors are now keeping their focus on the release later in the day of key US jobs figures, hoping for further signs a recovery in the world's number-one economy is picking up strength.
Tokyo ended 0.14% lower, edging down 21.68 points to 15 348.29 after rising more than 1.5% over the previous three days. Seoul lost 0.21% to close at 2 010.97, while Hong Kong was marginally lower, giving up 18.18 points to 23 531.44.
However, Sydney added 0.66% to 5 491.2 and Shanghai closed 0.19% higher, adding 3.81 points to 2 063.23.
Regional shares have enjoyed a broad rally this week, helped by data suggesting Chinese manufacturing is getting back on track.
Global shares have been on an upward course for much of the week and were given an extra lift by a positive report on private jobs on Wednesday.
Payrolls company ADP said the private sector added a better-than-expected 281 000 jobs in June, surging from 179 000 in May.
The news lifted sentiment ahead of the release on Thursday of the Labour Department's non-farm payrolls data, which is used as a barometer of the wider economy.
US shares extended Tuesday's gains. On Wall Street the Dow added 0.12% and the S&P 500 was marginally higher, both hitting records for a second successive day. The Nasdaq was flat.
In foreign exchange trade the gains on equity markets lifted confidence, which provided support to higher risk, higher-yielding units.
The dollar bought ¥101.91 in afternoon Tokyo trade compared with ¥101.77 in New York Wednesday. The yen, which is considered a safe bet in times of uncertainty, has slipped over the past week - on Monday it touched ¥101.23 against the dollar, its highest level since late May.
The euro bought $1.3659 and ¥139.22 against $1.3658 and ¥138.99.
Oil extended losses in Asia on prospects that Libya will begin exporting more crude into a global market flush with supplies. US benchmark West Texas Intermediate eased 43 cents to $104.05 while Brent crude for August was down 63c at $110.61.
Gold fetched $1 320.46 an ounce at 10:00 compared with $1 326.03 late on Wednesday.
In other markets:
- Taipei added 0.44% to 9 526.23.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co put on 1.51% to Tw$134.5 while Hon Hai was 0.97% higher at Tw$104.0.
- Wellington rose 0.35% to 5 167.39.
Air New Zealand was up 1.4% at NZ$2.17 and Fletcher Building lifted 0.91% to NZ$8.85.
- Manila closed 0.71% higher, adding 48.71 points to 6 899.31.
Philippine Long Distance Telephone rose 0.74% to 3 000.00 pesos, Universal Robina added 1.69% to 156.00 pesos and SM Investments inched up 0.06% to 809.50 pesos.
