Australia S&P/ASX 200 up 0.27%, Japan’s Nikkei 225 up 0.09%

Australia stocks edged higher after the close on Friday. As rises in the Gold, Metals & Mining, and Resources sectors, in particular, led shares higher.

The S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.27% at the close in Sydney.

On the S&P/ASX 200, the session’s best performers were Webjet Ltd, rising 7.42% or 0.33 points to trade at 4.78 at the close. Moreover, Flight Centre Ltd rose 7.26% or 1.05 points to end at 15.51. Corporate Travel Management Ltd gained 6.31% or 1.06 points to 17.86 in late trade.

On the other hand, the worst performers were Pro Medicus Ltd falling 7.77% or 3.57 points to trade at 42.38 at the close. Moreover, Nearmap Ltd dropped 4.97% or 0.090 points to end at 1.720. Afterpay Touch Group Ltd sank 4.14% or 4.12 points to 95.38.

On the Sydney Stock Exchange, Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones by 699 to 672, and 394 ended unchanged.

The S&P/ASX 200 VIX declined 7.26% to 11.585.

Japan Stocks Higher at Close of Trade

After the close on Friday, rises in the Paper & Pulp, Railway & Bus, and Real Estate sectors particularly led Japanese shares higher. 

The Nikkei 225 gained 0.09% at the close in Tokyo.

On the Nikkei 225, the session’s best performers were DOWA Holdings Co., Ltd., rising 5.21% or 245.0 points to trade at 4945.0 at the close. Moreover, Toho Zinc Co., Ltd. gained 5.11% or 120.0 points to end at 2469.0. Pacific Metals Co., Ltd. rose 4.75% or 110.0 points to 2427.0 in late trade.

The session’s worst performers were Chiyoda Corp., falling 6.02% or 31.0 points to trade at 484.0 at the close. Mitsubishi Corp. declined 3.96% or 125.0 points to end at 3031.0. Also, Kyowa Hakko Kirin Co., Ltd. edged down 3.60% or 125.0 points to 3350.0.

On the Tokyo Stock Exchange, rising stocks outnumbered declining ones by 2491 to 1067, and 193 ended unchanged.

DOWA Holdings Co., Ltd shares rose to 3-year highs, gaining 5.21% or 245.0 to 4945.0.

The Nikkei Volatility was unchanged from 0% to 19.83.

Elsewhere, European stock markets edged higher at the open on Friday, strengthened by strong trade data out of China. Investors, however, were wary ahead of the key monthly U.S. employment report.