Asian markets mostly up, euro falls further

Seoul gained 0.4 percent, or 7.83 points, to 1,957.45 and Sydney added 0.94 percent, or 42.5 points, to close at 4,551.8 but Tokyo ended 0.19 percent, or 17.77 points, down at 9,527.39.

In the afternoon Hong Kong gained 0.32 percent and Shanghai was 1.61 percent higher.

Shares in New York provided a bright start to the day as data showed that jobless claims in the United States fell last week after three weeks of higher figures caused by superstorm Sandy.

Initial claims for unemployment insurance in the week to December 1 dropped from 395,000 the previous week and well over 400,000 in the two weeks before.

The news bodes well ahead of the release later Friday of key non-farm payrolls data.

On Wall Street the Dow closed 0.30 percent higher, the S&P 500 added 0.33 percent and the Nasdaq gained 0.52 percent.

In Tokyo, the euro rose as dealers moved back into buying mode after it suffered a big fall in New York late Thursday on news the European Central Bank had tipped the eurozone economy shrink 0.3 percent in 2013. It had previously forecast 0.5 percent growth.

The bank also hinted that it might be moving toward cutting its benchmark rate, despite holding firm on Thursday.

The single currency was quoted at $1.2960 in afternoon Asian trade, from $1.2969 in New York late Thursday, and 106.80 yen from 106.86 yen.

The unit was also well down from the $1.3055 and 107.69 yen in Asia earlier on Thursday.

The dollar was at 82.41 yen in Asia, from 82.37 yen in New York.

In Hong Kong insurance firm PICC jumped almost eight percent at one point on its trading debut after raising $3.1 billion in an initial public offering, making it the city's biggest listing this year.

Shanghai also continued its rebound after hitting a near four-year low on Monday, with traders hoping the mainland government will introduce a fresh round of measures to support the world's number two economy.

On oil markets New York's main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in January was up 29 cents at $86.55 a barrel in the afternoon and Brent North Sea crude for January added 23 cents to $107.26.

Gold was at $1,701.72 at 0655 GMT compared with $1,693.03 late on Thursday.

In other markets:

-- Taipei rose 0.25 percent, or 19.0 points, to 7,642.26.

TSMC rose 1.55 percent to Tw$98.1 while Hon Hai Precision was 1.06 percent higher at Tw$95.5.

-- Wellington added 0.45 percent, or 18.17 points, to end at 4,041.53.

Air New Zealand rose 1.9 percent to NZ$1.34 but Chorus fell 2.1 percent to NZ$2.79.