The leading Asian stock exchanges started Thursday's trading in different directions in a situation where investors are waiting for the new employment figures from the USA, which will be published on Friday.
In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 had fallen by 0.2 percent at lunchtime, while the broader Topix index fell by 0.7 percent.
From Hong Kong, more cheerful tones were heard when the Hang Seng index rose by 0.8 percent.
The Shenzhen composite index stood with its increase of 0.1 percent for a cautious joy, while the composite index in Shanghai hesitated around zero.
In South Korea, the joy continued, which has followed in the wake of the country filling its power vacuum with the election of a new president, and the Kospi index jumped up by 1.5 percent.
