Asian stocks consolidated Friday
Asian stocks consolidated Friday, edging up despite a strong aftershock that jolted northeastern Japan, the region that endured vast destruction following a major earthquake last month.
Japan's Nikkei 225 index rose 0.9 percent to 9,678.68. Hong Kong's Hang Seng was up 0.3 percent to 24,364.38, and South Korea's Kospi rose 0.5 percent to 2,132.20. Indexes in Taiwan, Indonesia, Australia, Singapore and the Philippines were also firmer.
The quake rattled investors, partly since it struck near the same area as the massive earthquake that triggered a devastating tsunami on March 11. But stocks retained their resiliency as the impact of the latest quake appeared to be less than initially feared, and appeared not to have damaged the area's nuclear power plants.