Asian Markets Trade Mixed Ahead of US Monthly Jobs Report

Asian shares were in mixed territory on February 5 ahead of a closely watched US monthly jobs report.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 closed down 1.32% to 16,819.59 points as a stronger yen against the dollar hurt the country’s big exporters for a second day.

Toyota and Honda shares finished the day down about 2%, while Mazda shed nearly 5%.

At the close of trade, Toyota reported a 4.7% rise in net income for the three months to December.

However, the company’s operating profit for the quarter fell by 5.3%, missing forecasts.

Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 spent the day in negative territory and closed flat, down 0.08% to 16,819.59.

The country’s big lenders had weighed on the market and analysts said traders were being cautious ahead of a US jobs report due out later.

Energy companies regained lost territory late in the day, however, with Woodside finishing up 0.41% and rival Santos up 2.2%. Mining giant BHP finished up close to 5%.

Official numbers released earlier showed Australia’s retail sales had come in flat for the month of December – a 0.4% gain was expected.

However, analysts said the numbers still supported economic growth.

In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng was up 0.4% to 19,255.88 points in afternoon trade, while the mainland’s benchmark Shanghai Composite closed down 0.63% to 2,763.49.

South Korea’s Kospi index closed flat, up just 0.08% to 1,917.79.