Asian markets were trading mostly lower as investors turned cautious after crude surged to 30 month high. Investors were also awaiting policy decision by Bank of Japan today.
US markets logged marginal gains on back of gains in technology shares. However volume continued to remain thin ahead of earnings season kick starting next week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average and the Nasdaq Composite were up 0.3% each and the Standard & Poor's 500-stock index added 0.2%.
In Asia the Nikkei Stock Average was up 0.5% on back of weakening Yen boosting exporter shares and the Bank of Japan possibly announcing fresh measures to boost the financial system.
Hong Kong shares were choppy; the Hang Seng dipped 0.1%, Chinese property developers weighed. Shanghai Composite was trading flat. The SGX Nifty was down 2 points, at 5880. South Korea's Kospi Composite declined 0.5%, Singapore's Strait Times dipped 0.3%, and Taiwan's weighted index was trading flat.