Major Asian markets closed mostly lower Friday.

Tokyo's Nikkei index lost a fraction of a percent to finish at 8,677.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng index gained just one quarter of one percent to finish the day's trading at 18,025.

Share prices were lower in Manila, Shanghai, Sydney, Mumbai, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur and Wellington, but higher in Tapei, Singapore, Bangkok and Seoul.

In currency trading, the dollar was selling at 76.69, down a tenth of a yen from Thursday.

Gold is trading at $1,625.88 an ounce.