Straits Times Index up 1.38% on the week

BETTER-THAN-EXPECTED manufacturing data from China vied with trade talk worries for investors' attention on Friday, leading to mixed results for Asian markets.

The Straits Times Index (STI) closed flat, down a mere 0.01 per cent or 0.45 point to 3,229.43. Still, gains earlier in the shortened trading week helped the STI improve 1.38 per cent from last Friday's close.

Japan, New Zealand and Malaysia registered losses, while indices in China, Hong Kong, South Korea and Australia fared better and closed in positive territory.