BEIJING (AP) Asian stock markets were mostly lower Friday as traders awaited European inflation data and the first day of the U.S. Christmas shopping season.
The region's heavyweight, Japan's Nikkei 225, shed 0.1 percent to 15,711.15 after gaining strongly on Thursday. Hong Kong and Taipei rose but benchmarks in China, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand all declined.
Trading was light after U.S. markets were closed Thursday for the Thanksgiving holiday. Wall Street reopens for shortened trading hours Friday, while markets watched the informal start of Christmas shopping, a critical period for retailers.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng index added 0.2 percent to 23,849.05 and Taiwan's Taiex rose 0.3 percent to 8,388.97.
China's benchmark Shanghai Composite Index shed 0.1 percent to 2,216.87. Seoul's Kospi lost 0.1 percent to 2,043.75, Sydney's S&P/ASX 200 was off 0.3 percent at 5,318.5. New Zealand, Singapore and Manila also fell.