Asian Stocks End Lower; Nikkei Dips 0.4%

In Tokyo, the Nikkei closed off slightly, losing 0.04%, to 9,287.28. The benchmark last ended higher on Tuesday, June 30.

The weak trading in Japan came as its central bank said wholesale prices fell 6.6% in June from a year earlier -- the biggest fall on record and the latest evidence that deflation is returning to the world's second-biggest economy.

Elsewhere, Hong Kong's Hang Seng fell 0.5%, while South Korea's Kospi fell 0.2% and Shanghai's index ended lower by 0.3%.

In New York Thursday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 4.76, or 0.1%, to 8,183.17, the second day of modest gains after a 161-point drop on Tuesday. The blue chips crossed zero 108 times during trading.

The broader S&P 500 index rose 3.12, or 0.4%, to 882.68.

U.S. stock futures were lower Friday suggesting stocks would open down.

Markets in London, Frankfurt and Paris fell.

Oil prices were down, with benchmark crude for August delivery falling 75 cents to $59.66 a barrel. The contract rose 27 cents Thursday.

The dollar dropped to 92.72 yen compared to 93.02 yen. The euro tanked to $1.3918 from $1.4018.