Asian shares mixed as Yemen crisis hits sentiment

Asian markets were mixed on Friday in edgy trade as investors tracked the crisis in Yemen, with fears that unrest in the country could turn into a wider Middle East conflict. Wall Street provided another negative lead while the euro struggled after tumbling in New York from levels above $1.10 earlier in the day as traders sought out safe investments. Oil price also dipped a day after surging on fears the unrest in Yemen could disrupt supplies from major crude producers nearby. Tokyo tumbled 0.95 percent, or 185.49 points, to finish at 19,285.63 and Seoul fell 0.14 percent, or 2.76 points, to 2,019.80, while Hong Kong was barely changed, edging down 10.88 points to 24,486.20. However, Sydney added 0.69 percent, or 40.84 points, to close at 5,919.9 following a heavy fall Thursday, while Shanghai ended up 0.24 percent, or 9.00 points, at 3,691.10 on hopes for more Chinese stimulus. US traders ran for the sidelines Thursday after Saudi Arabian jets targeted rebel positions as part of its support of Yemen's president, who fled his presidential complex the previous day after it was attacked by a warplane. Iran condemned the action by a Saudi coalition of regional Sunni nations, which has exacerbated longstanding Saudi-Iranian tensions. Saudi Arabia, the world's top crude producer, also ramped up security along its borders and across the kingdom, including at oil facilities. In New York the Dow eased 0.23 percent, the S&P 500 dropped 0.24 percent and the Nasdaq lost 0.27 percent. - Oil prices retreat - The events sent oil prices racing higher Thursday as investors fretted about possible disruptions to supplies from the crude-rich region. US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) jumped $2.22, or 4.5 percent, to $51.43 -- its highest level in more than three weeks -- while Brent jumped $2.71 to $59.19. However, on Friday the two contracts retreated a touch. WTI was down $1.02 to $50.41 and Brent eased $1.19 cents to $58.00. "While we've got no actual supply disruption it's pretty clear that the market is focused on the potential here, which is enormous," Michael McCarthy, a chief markets strategist at CMC Markets in Sydney, told Bloomberg News. "We're likely to see a further increase in volatility as the price reacts to developments." The edginess has led dealers into safer investments, hitting the euro. In afternoon trade the euro, which was above $1.10 in Tokyo Thursday, bought $1.0811 on Friday, compared with $1.0884 in US trade. The single currency was also at 129.04 yen against 129.71 yen in New York. The dollar was at 119.30 yen, compared with 119.18 yen in New York late Thursday. Gold fetched $1,198.77 against $1,205.54 late Thursday. In other markets: -- Taipei fell 1.20 percent, or 115.40 points, to 9,503.72. Acer shed 3.27 percent to Tw$20.7 while Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. was 2.06 percent lower at Tw$142.5. -- Wellington added 0.36 percent, or 21.08 points, to 5,919.94. Telecom giant Spark was up 0.34 percent at NZ$2.98 and Contact Energy added 1.01 percent to NZ$5.98. -- Manila ended flat, edging up 6.86 points to 7,877.96. Universal Robina was up 1.56 percent at 221.40 pesos and Metrobank was down 0.51 percent at 97.10 pesos but Energy Development Corp was up 0.24 percent at 8.51 pesos. -- Kuala Lumpur lost 0.27 percent, or 5.05 points, to 1,813.37. Maybank fell 0.11 percent to 9.21 ringgit, Tenaga shed 1.80 percent to 14.20 ringgit, while Telekom gained 0.14 percent to 7.16 ringgit. -- Jakarta ended up 0.52 percent, or 28.05 points, at 5,396.85. Coal miner Bukit Asam gained 2.44 percent to 10,500 rupiah, while construction firm Wijaya Karya slipped 1.32 percent to 3,355 rupiah. -- Mumbai ended nearly flat at 27,458.64 points. Hindalco Industries rose 2.97 percent to 133.55 rupees, while telecom major Bharti Airtel fell 5.64 percent to 376.20 rupees. -- Bangkok ended flat, edging down 1.19 points, to 1,495.22. Siam City Cement plunged 6.04 percent to 358.00 baht, while oil company PTT Exploration and Production dipped 1.79 percent to 109.50 baht. -- Singapore rose 0.54 percent, or 18.51 points, to close at 3,450.10. Singapore Airlines climbed 1.44 percent to Sg$11.95 while Singapore Telecom advanced 1.38 percent to Sg$4.41.