Major stock exchanges in the Asia-Pacific region traded mostly higher after reports from Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry on Thursday revealed that the country's industrial output decreased by 7.5% while its retail trade increased by 0.8% in January.
Australia's S&P/ASX 200 gained 0.07% at 3:20 am CET, with South Korea's Kospi Composite down by 0.44% a minute later. Hong Kong's Hang Seng increased by 0.24% at 3:23 am CET, while, on the Chinese mainland, the Shanghai Composite and the Shenzhen Composite increased by 1.10% and 2.22%, respectively. Japan's Nikkei 225 was down 0.64% at 3:26 am CET.
The dollar traded 0.50% lower against the yen, going for ¥149.9170 at 3:27 am CET.