Asia Stocks Mixed

Updated from March 8

Asian stock markets put in a mixed performance Friday, with shares rising modestly in Japan and giving ground in Hong Kong.

Japan's Nikkei 225 Index rose 73 to close at 17,164, helped by exporters Toyota Motor (TM Quote) and Sony(SNE Quote). Friday's advance added to a 1.9% gain Thursday.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng dropped 40 points to 19,135, while India's Sensex slid 164 to 12,885.