Japan, Korea Soar to End Week

Stock indexes in Japan and Korea gained ground Friday, supported by gains in tech stocks

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 vaulted 405.21 points, or 0.6%, to 68,713.80

In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng ditched 279.66 points, or 1.1%, to 25,116.85.

Samsung took on 2.4% and SK Hynix, rose 3.2%, both of which are SAKospi heavyweights. Over in Japan, SoftBank advanced 2.94%, Advantest gained 2.6% and Nintendo rose 6.91%.

In other markets;

In Shanghai, the CSI index eked ahead 1.83 points to 4,665.88.

In Korea, the Kospi index sprang 164.6 points, or 2.4%, to 6,977.94

In Singapore, the Straits Times index revived 23.54 points, or 0.4%, to 5,743.59.

In Taiwan, the Taiex index fell 210.47 points, or 0.5%, to 45,811.01.

In New Zealand, the NZX 50 prospered 29.08 points, or 0.2%, to 13,854.38

In Australia, the ASX lost 73.28 points, or 0.8%, to 9,115.25.