Asian markets stuttered on Friday, snapping out of the reprieve seen post-OPEC output cut deal, as dollar strength pauses and investors await the U.S. jobs report.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 Index dropped 87.04 points, or 0.5%, to 18.426.08, likely dragged by by yen strength which is seen as a negative as it makes Japanese exports more expensive and erodes overseas profits when repatriated.
The Hang Seng Index in Hong Kong plummeted 313.41 points, or 1.4%, to 22,564.82
The yen wavered at 114.07 against the U.S. dollar, strengthening as much as 113.54 earlier.
Australian indexes were also pointed down, dragged by a broad-based decline across the index except for the all-ordinaries gold sub-index which was up 1%
Australia's October retail sales rose 0.5% from the previous month, the third straight month of gains. A poll had expected sales to rise by 0.3%.
South Korea's revised third-quarter gross domestic product (GDP) was up 0.6% from the previous quarter, slightly below a 0.7% estimate earlier. The East Asian country remains embroiled in a political scandal involving the President Park Geun-hye, who has offered to quit from her post as opposition parties call for her impeachment.
Meanwhile, crude prices started to slip on Friday Asian time but holding above $50.00 U.S. a barrel, after producer cartel Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) agreed on a production cut for the first time since 2008 on Wednesday.
In other markets
The CSI 300 in Shanghai fell 36.09 points, or 1%, to 3,528.95
In Korea, the Kospi listed lower 13.14 points, or 0.7%, at 1,970.61
The Straits Times Index in Singapore deleted 9.21 points, or 0.3%, to 2,919.37
In Taiwan, the Taiex Index moved down 74.04 points, or 0.8%, to 9,189.49
The NZX 50 backtracked 27.89 points, or 0.4%, at 6,904.85
Australia's ASX 200 stumbled 56.22 points, or 1%, at 5,444.02
