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Hong Kong - Asia's markets were mixed on Thursday, with Japanese shares boosted by a weaker yen, although traders remain on edge over the Crimean crisis.
Tokyo rallied 1.00% to 14 622.89, Seoul climbed 0.70% to 1 977.97 but Sydney eased 0.50% to 5 350.1.
Hong Kong fell 0.24% to finish at 21 834.45 and Shanghai slipped 0.83% to 2 046.59.
With few leads for direction, investors were given a lift by better-than expected data on the US retail sector, a key driver of the economy.
The Commerce Department said durable goods orders rose 2.2% in February from the previous month, beating forecasts of a 1.0% decline.
However, on Wall Street the Dow fell 0.60% the S&P 500 declined 0.70% and the Nasdaq sank 1.43%.
In Tokyo, the Nikkei bounced back from early losses and the yen dipped against the dollar.
The dollar bought ¥102.10 in afternoon trade from ¥102.00 late in New York.
Analysts said the focus is moving to next week's data release, including the Bank of Japan's quarterly tankan business sentiment survey on Tuesday and US non-farm payrolls on Friday.
Japan's higher sales tax increase also kicks in, with many investors expecting a downturn in sentiment.
Credit Agricole's executive director of foreign exchange Yuji Saito told Dow Jones Newswires that "such an outcome will increase investor expectations for additional BoJ easing, which is good for the dollar against the yen".
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pushed through the controversial sales tax hike as part of a plan to reduce Japan's yawning national debt but critics say it will knock the country's nascent economic recovery off course.
In other forex deals the euro bought $1.3770 and ¥140.49 compared with $1.3788 and ¥140.57.
The single currency is sharply down from $1.3818 and ¥141.34 in Tokyo on Wednesday, as European and US dealers sold it following comments from the European Central Bank that hinted at a further loosening of monetary policy to avert deflation.
Investors are keeping an eye on events in Europe after Russia took control of Crimea from Ukraine this month.
In Washington, US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel said Russia had moved more troops closer to Ukraine's borders in recent days despite assurances it will not invade.
While tensions have eased, markets remain wary as President Barack Obama said on Wednesday that the United States and its allies needed to stand firm in opposing Moscow's takeover of Crimea.
There are fears about the long-term ramifications of the stand-off with Europe hugely reliant on Russia for its energy.
On oil markets New York's main contract, West Texas Intermediate for May delivery, fell 9 cents to $100.17 a barrel in afternoon trade and Brent North Sea crude for May eased 14c to $106.89.
Gold fetched $1 300.70 an ounce at 10:10 compared with $1 314.55 late on Wednesday.
In other markets:
- Taipei rose 0.48%, or 42.30 points, to 8 779.57.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co was 0.43% higher at Tw$116.0 while Formosa Plastics climbed 2.57% to Tw$75.9.
- Wellington was flat, edging up 1.65 points to 5 126.53.
Telecom advanced 1.25% to NZ$2.42 and Fletcher Building gained 1.59% to NZ$9.57.
- Manila was 0.52% lower, shedding 32.81 points to 6 315.69.
Petron Corp fell 12.69% to 11.70 pesos, Alliance Global Group slipped 0.52% to 28.80 pesos and Universal Robina was 0.59% lower at 135.60 pesos.
