Market Report - Asia Up Ahead of US Jobs Report

In today’s market report… Asian shares were up Friday, though gains were tentative ahead of key U.S. jobs data due later in the day. 

Regional markets were still poised to post their best weekly performance in two months, after a number of surprisingly firm global economic indicators this week. 

Taiwan's TAIEX was the outperformer, rising 1.4 percent as technology stocks gained on higher demand hopes. 

Other North Asian markets traded mixed, as investors avoided strong positions ahead of an expected fall in U.S. employment. 

Retailers weighed on Tokyo and Hong Kong sentiment, after poor sales numbers from Fast Retailing's Uniqlo stores and Esprit's weaker-than-expected earnings. 

Mild gains in consumer electronics stocks helped the Nikkei to close over half-a-percent up. 

The Hang Seng was flat as of midday. 

Sydney stocks added slightly to 3-week highs hit Thursday. Top miner BHP rose for a third straight day, amid reports Chinese firms had approached a Canadian pension fund to make a rival bid for Potash. 

BHP's shares rose 0.4 percent, outpacing an 0.2 percent rise for the All Ordinaries.