Asian shares mixed

Asian markets were mixed in cautious trading Friday ahead of the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump.

China`s report that its economy grew at a 6.8 per cent pace in October-December was in line with expectations.

Tokyo`s Nikkei 225 index edged up 0.1 per cent to 19,088.59 and the Shanghai Composite Index added 0.5 per cent to 3,118.17. Sydney`s S&P-ASX 200 fell 0.6 per cent to 5,660.30.

Hong Kong`s Hang Seng shed 0.6 per cent to 22,904.67 and South Korea`s Kospi dipped 0.2 per cent to 2,067.86. Southeast Asian markets were also mixed.

The Dow fell 72.32 points, or 0.4 per cent, to 19,732.40. The S&P 500 index slid 8.20 points, or 0.4 per cent, to 2,263.69. The Nasdaq composite gave up 15.57 points, or 0.3 per cent, to 5,540.08.

Benchmark US crude gained 19 cents to $52.31 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

The contract rose 23 cents Thursday to close at $52.12. Brent crude, used to price international oils, rose 23 cents to $54.39 in London. It added 24 cents the previous session to $54.16.

The dollar fell to 114.73 yen from Thursday`s 114.80. The euro rose to $1.0681 from $1.0659, according to AP.