HONG KONG: Asian markets were mixed Friday while the dollar and euro hit five-year highs against the yen, as more positive US economic data fuelled speculation the Federal Reserve will announce a cut to its stimulus programme next week.

With attention now fully on the US central bank's policy meeting, each release pointing to a strengthening economy is being pounced on as another step towards a wind-down of the bond-buying scheme.

Tokyo jumped 0.40 per cent as the yen tumbled, with the Nikkei adding 61.29 points to 15,403.1, while Sydney rose 0.71 per cent, or 35.9 points, to end at 5,098.4. But Seoul eased 0.26 per cent, or 5.02 points, to close at 1,962.91.

In the afternoon, Hong Kong was 0.25 per cent higher while Shanghai finished 0.31 per cent lower, giving up 6.72 points to 2,196.08.

Global equities have seen a broad sell-off over the past four days after positive economic numbers – including falling unemployment and strong economic growth figures – have strengthened the argument for a December cut to the Fed's $85 billion a month asset-purchasing.

Those expectations were reinforced on Thursday after the government said retail sales grew 0.7 per cent in November, above the forecast 0.6 per cent and pointing to building confidence among US shoppers, a key driver of economic growth.

“The conclusion must be that it is increasingly likely the much debated Fed taper begins next week,” National Australia Bank said.

The likelihood of a stimulus cut hit Wall Street, where the Dow fell 0.66 per cent, the S&P 500 declined 0.38 per cent and the Nasdaq shed 0.14 per cent, marking a third straight loss.

“Investors continue to fret over the Federal Reserve's policy meeting,” Chibagin Asset Management general manager for research Yoshihiro Okumura told Dow Jones Newswires.

“Until the Fed's decision is made weak market sentiment will continue to persist.”

But Naoki Fujiwara, fund manager at Shinkin Asset Management, said traders' fears about a slowdown in Fed easing were misplaced. “The market is overreacting. Tapering itself is not a bad thing, as the US economy has shown improvements.”

“Besides, the start of tapering would not mean the end of monetary easing,” he said.

With the prospect of less cash being printed by the Fed – in turn leading to a pick-up in demand – the dollar climbed towards highs not seen since October 2008.

It peaked at 103.92 yen in Tokyo trade while the euro touched 142.82 yen – both highs not seen since October 2008. However, they eased a tad in the afternoon, with the dollar at 103.71 yen and the euro at 142.62 yen.

The Japanese unit has also been pressured by a growing sense that the Bank of Japan will add to its own monetary easing scheme after a marked slowdown in the country's third-quarter economic growth.

Dealers said the BoJ's Tankan business confidence survey due Monday will give a better idea of plans for its stimulus, which it put into effect in April.

“Investors will be looking for a cue to sell the yen stemming from the BoJ's additional easing,” said Citigroup Global Market Japan chief forex strategist Osamu Takashima.

The yen has lost about a quarter of its value against the dollar since late last year when, as leader of the opposition Shinzo Abe, who is now prime minister, promised a policy blitz to stoke the economy.

The euro was also at $1.3751 against $1.3752.

The Australian dollar sank to a three-and-a-half-month low of 89.22 US cents after the head of the country's central bank said he wanted to see it at 85 to help stimulate trade-exposed sectors of the economy.

Glenn Stevens also told the Australian Financial Review he expected the Fed to scale back its stimulus “before too much longer”.

On oil markets New York's main contract, West Texas Intermediate for January delivery, was down nine cents at $97.41 in afternoon trade while Brent North Sea crude for January eased seven cents to $108.60.

Gold fetched $1,228.70 at 0700 GMT compared with $1,242.75 late Thursday.

In other markets:

– Taipei rose 0.19 per cent, or 15.61 points, to 8,376.94. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. fell 0.49 per cent to Tw$102.5 while smartphone maker HTC rose 1.75 per cent to Tw$145.5.

– Wellington also added 0.19 per cent, or 8.86 points, to 4,717.06. Fletcher Building was up 0.46 per cent at NZ$8.77 and Chorus lifted 7.30 per cent to NZ$1.47 but Hallenstein Glassons fell 6.5 per cent to NZ$3.46.