Stocks in Asia are mixed to end the week.....>

STOCKS: Stocks in Asia are mixed to end the week on Friday. At the time of

writing the Nikkei 225 in Japan are just in positive territory, up 5 points at

23,715, but the index spent much of the session in negative territory. After

opening flat the index dipped before bottoming out at 23,643 before bouncing

into the lunch break. On the Nikkei 225 9/11 sectors are in the red, led lower

by Consumer Staples and Utilities. The index has moved in tandem with yen,

USD/JPY fell to session lows of 111.06 before bouncing to current levels at

111.26. 

- In Australia the ASX 200 is up 10 points at 6078 and has moved in a range

throughout the session, failing to be boosted by a wider China trade surplus as

imports dropped while exports rose.

- In China the Shanghai Comp is 3 points higher at 3,428, while in Hong Kong the

Hang Seng is up 96 points at 31,226. Chinese data showed a wide trade surplus

driven by higher exports and a slower pace of increase in imports.

- US equity futures are slightly higher as we head into European hours, building

on gains that took the bourses to record highs on Thursday.