Most Asian markets were listless Friday as investors awaited key U.S. job data that could influence the Fed’s interest rate policy.

Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 index was practically unchanged at 16,925.68 while South Korea’s Kospi edged up 0.2 per cent to 2,037.40. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng rose 0.5 per cent to 23,275.83 and the Shanghai Composite Index in mainland China slipped 0.1 per cent to 3,060.06.

Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 lost 0.8 per cent to 5,373.50. Benchmarks in Taiwan, Singapore and Thailand fell while indexes in the Philippines, Indonesia and New Zealand rose.