Japan's stock market rose to a four-month high while shares in Australia edged down in quiet trading Friday, with most of the region's markets closed and investors awaiting key events in the coming week, according to AP. Tokyo's benchmark Nikkei 225 stock average rose 149.11 points, or 1.7 percent, to 8,977.37, its highest close in nearly four months. A weaker yen versus the dollar supported sentiment, as did relief over Wall Street's muted reaction overnight to Chrysler's bankruptcy. Meanwhile, Australia's S&P/ASX 200 slipped 0.3 percent to 3,769.6, and New Zealand's NZX-50 was off 0.8 percent at 2,719.92. Financial markets throughout much of Asia were closed for May Day and other holidays. Markets were closed in mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, the Philippines and India. Japanese markets will be closed next Monday through Wednesday.
