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• Asian stocks inched up on Friday after a technology-led drop on Wall Street, with gains kept in check by investors' reluctance to stake out fresh positions ahead of U.S. jobs data later in the global day.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS rose 0.2 percent. The index was poised to climb 0.4 percent for the week, taking its gains so far this year to 24 percent.

• Japan's Nikkei share average slipped on Friday as the yen's rise to seven-week highs overshadowed optimism on corporate earnings, while Mazda Motor rose ahead of an expected announcement of a capital alliance with Toyota Motor.

The Nikkei shed 0.4 percent to 19,952.33, but stayed flat on the week. The trading range in which it has remained since mid-June has narrowed.

• Shanghai stocks fell on Friday, but managed to notch their seventh straight week of gains, bolstered by the continued robust performance of resources firms.

The blue-chip CSI300 index fell 0.5 percent, to 3,707.58 points, while the Shanghai Composite Index lost 0.3 percent to 3,262.08 points.

• Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T) and rival Mazda Motor Corp are expected to announce plans on Friday to build a $1.6 billion U.S assembly plant as part of a new joint venture, a person briefed on the matter said.

The plant will be capable of producing 300,000 vehicles a year, with production divided between the two automakers, and will employ about 4,000 people when it opens in 2021, the person said.

A new auto plant would be a major boost to U.S. President Donald Trump, who campaigned on promises to increase manufacturing and expand employment for American autoworkers.

Reference: Reuters, CNBC