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• Caution prevailed in financial markets on Friday ahead of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration, even as China's economic growth beat expectations and Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen toned down her earlier hawkish policy stance.
MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS retreated 0.2 percent, and looked set to end the week flat
• Japanese stocks edged up on Friday as investors covered their short positions, but gains were tempered and volume was low as markets remained cautious before the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.
The Nikkei ended 0.3 percent higher at 19,137.91. For the week, it dropped 0.8 percent.
• China stocks ended a volatile week on an upbeat note on Friday, as main indexes rose after data showing faster-than-expected economic growth fuelled blue-chips, while a surge in small-caps erased most of the losses earlier in the week.
The blue-chip CSI300 index rose 0.8 percent, to 3,354.89 points, while the Shanghai Composite Index added 0.7 percent to 3,123.14 points.
• Hong Kong stocks ended a thinly-traded week down and snapped three weeks of gains on Friday, as investors were wary ahead of Donald Trump's inauguration as the 45th U.S. president later in the day.
The benchmark Hang Seng index fell 0.7 percent, to 22,885.91 points at the close, while the China Enterprises Index lost0.8 percent, to 9,715.72 points.
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