TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares were mixed Friday as oil prices eased and Wall Street stabilized after two days of sharp losses.
Both markets remained cautious as investors monitored the impact of Libya's growing political crisis.
Japan's Nikkei 225 stock average rose 0.2 percent to 10,475.68, and Australia's S&P/ASX 200 added nearly 0.1 percent to 4,812.80. Singapore's benchmark also climbed.
Meanwhile, South Korea's Kospi fell 0.2 percent to 1,946.15 and the Shanghai Composite index slipped 0.7 percent to 2,860.47.
In New York on Thursday, investors were relieved to see oil prices fall for the first time in nine days. The International Energy Agency said fighting between forces loyal to Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi and anti-government protesters were not affecting oil inventories as much as analysts had feared.
The Dow Jones industrial average fell 37.28 points, or 0.3 percent, to 12,068.50.
The broader Standard & Poor's 500 index fell 1.30, or 0.1 percent, to 1,306.10. The Nasdaq composite bucked the trend, rising 14.91 points, or 0.6 percent, to 2,737.90.
In currencies, the dollar rose to 81.93 from 81.77 yen late Thursday. The euro stood at $1.3823 from $1.3807.
Benchmark crude for April delivery was down 33 cents to $96.95 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract fell 82 cents to settle at $97.28 a barrel on Thursday.
