Asian mkts mixed, Nikkei plunges 4%

Japan's Nikkei average tumbled more than 4% on Friday, the first trading day for a week, hitting its lowest close since July 2006.

In a half-day of trading, the benchmark Nikkei closed down 616.37 points (4.03%) to finish at 14,691.41.

Stocks bounced in Hong Kong with oil stocks like PetroChina rising as
crude oil prices hovered below the $100 per barrel mark. The benchmark Hang Seng Index  was up 0.44% at 27,004.34.