Asian shares up after Dow breaks milestone

Asian markets mostly rose on Friday after the Dow closed above the 16,000 level for the first time on the back of a slew of upbeat economic data. Tokyo's benchmark Nikkei 225 index, which surged 1.23 percent by the break, ended just 16.12 points higher at 15,381.72. The Topix index of all first-section shares was up 0.18 percent, or 2.26 points, to 1,248.57. Shares in electronics maker Sharp jumped 8.41 percent to 322 yen on reports it is boosting production of smartphone screens for the huge Chinese market. Mobile carrier SoftBank was up 2.25 percent at 8,150 yen after news that US hedge fund Third Point has taken a one percent stake in the firm. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index was 0.49 percent higher, adding 115.99 points to 23,696.28. Industrial and Commercial Bank of China rose 0.54 percent to HK$5.55, Bank of East Asia gained 0.74 percent to HK$34.20 while Bank of Communications was up 0.53 percent at HK$5.73. Shanghai ended 0.43 percent lower, slipping 9.39 points to 2,196.38 as profit-takers moved in after the index rose more than three percent over the week when Beijing unveiled a blueprint for reforming the economy. However, the index still gained 2.83 percent for the week after the government unveiled a blueprint for reforming the economy. Among the biggest losers were media firms and companies linked to the new free-trade zone in Shanghai. BesTV New Media fell 5.13 percent to 39.03 yuan and Shanghai Xinhua Media fell 3.33 percent to 9.86 yuan. The Sydney index advanced 0.90 percent, or 47.6 points, to 5,335.9 and Seoul added 0.62 percent, or 12.45 points, to 2,006.23. The dollar bought 101.00 yen compared with 101.16 yen in New York. The gains come despite Fed minutes on Wednesday showing policymakers considering winding down its $85 billion a month bond-buying scheme. The euro held up after enjoying a lift on Thursday in New York in response to Mario Draghi's move to temper talk of a rate cut that had been swirling markets on Wednesday. The single currency fetched $1.3496 in Tokyo afternoon trade against $1.3478 in New York, while it also sat at 136.28 yen from 136.34 yen. In oil trade, New York's main contract, West Texas Intermediate for January delivery, fell 27 cents to $95.17, while Brent North Sea crude for January dropped 24 cents to $109.84. Gold fetched $1,244.50 per ounce at 0800 GMT compared with $1,247.52 on Thursday. In other markets: -- Taipei rose 0.21 percent, 17.33 points, to 8,116.78. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. fell 0.99 percent to Tw$100.0 while Acer rose 5.13 percent to Tw$16.4. -- Manila fell 0.62 percent, or 38.05 points, to 6,084.84. -- Wellington ended flat, edging down 0.36 points to 4,818.0. Warehouse fell 4.66 percent to NZ$3,68 on a profit warning while  Air New Zealand was up 4.23 percent at NZ$1.60.