LONDON (CNNfn) - Shares in Tokyo and Hong Kong advanced Friday as investors selectively scooped up technology shares, although some smaller Asian markets went into reverse.
 Tokyo's benchmark Nikkei 225 average closed up 0.8 percent at 15,747.26, leaving the index 0.4 percent ahead of its close a week earlier.
In Hong Kong, tech and telecom stocks lifted the Hang Seng Index to 15,648.98, a gain of 1.5 percent, and a healthy 7 percent up in the week as a whole.
Singapore's Straits Times index rose 1.6 percent to 1,997.03, for a 3.3 percent gain on the week.
In the currency market, the U.S. dollar strengthened slightly against the Japanese yen, fetching ¥107.75 in late trading in Tokyo, compared with ¥107.57 the previous day in New York.
In the U.S. Thursday, the Dow Jones industrial average rose 1.8 percent to 10,824.06 and the Nasdaq Composite index jumped 3.3 percent to 3,778.32 in its first advance of the week.
However, after the U.S. market closed, Apple Computer (AAPL: Research, Estimates) warned its fourth-quarter earnings would fall as much as 33 percent short of analysts' forecasts. The warning pushed Apple and other computer makers' shares sharply lower in after-hours trade.
Tokyo up as Sony rebounds
The Tokyo market took the Apple warning in stride, paying more heed to the earlier rebound in U.S. tech stocks.
Buying was also encouraged by hopes that fund managers will add value stocks to their portfolios before closing their books on Friday, the last trading day in the first half of the Japanese financial year.
Sony jumped 3 percent, paring Thursday's 6.4 percent loss after the company said a parts shortage prompted it to halve the number of units it will ship for the North American launch of its PlayStation 2 video game console.
Internet investment firm Softbank rose 2.5 percent.
Earnings jitters, exemplified Thursday by Apple's warning, are expected to keep weighing on U.S. stocks for the time being - which might mean more nervous times for Japanese high-tech shares, brokers said
 "Apple's announcement deterred investors from buying certain semiconductor-related stocks," said Masatoshi Sato, manager at Kankaku Securities' equity division. "But the New York market stabilized as a whole, and that is a big plus."
Leading chip and computer maker NEC rose 3.4 percent while rival Fujitsu slipped 0.8 percent. Chipmaker Tokyo Electron fell 1.9 percent.
Japan's third-largest carmaker Nissan surged 15.5 percent, following the company's forecast of an increase in half-year profit, the full-year profit would be above expectations. Investment bank Goldman Sachs raised its rating on the company's stock.
Hong Kong posts broad gains
Tech, telecom, property and banking shares lifted Hong Kong's main index in the wake of the strong session on Wall Street. Traders were also buying to enhance their portfolios on the last day of trading for the third quarter.
Mainland Chinese computer maker Legend Holdings rose 2.8 percent while  China Mobile added 2.5 percent. Telecom-to-property conglomerate Hutchison Whampoa was up 1.5 percent.
Telecommunication and Internet firm Pacific Century CyberWorks fell 2.2 percent as investors waited for any further news of a planned joint venture with Australian telecom firm Telstra. PCCW on Thursday announced a smaller-than-expected HK$35 million ($4.5 million) first-half net loss.
"Investors are very cautious about PCCW, they want more news on Telstra," said George Chan, senior analyst at Kwai Hung Securities. "But I think the stock will hold at current levels for the time being."
Investors had been hoping PCCW would shed light on the state of its planned $3 billion Internet and mobile-phone alliance with Telstra, amid media reports that the Australian firm is unhappy with the terms of the deal.
London-based bank HSBC Holdings was 0.5 percent higher while affiliate Hang Seng Bank was up 2.4 percent.
Developer Sun Hung Kai Properties rose 5.4 percent following its announcement late Thursday that full-year net profit jumped 17 percent to HK$10.82 billion.
Elsewhere in Asia Pacific
In Singapore, amid a generally positive session, some tech stocks fell out of favor. NatSteel Electronics, a major manufacturer for Apple, dropped 10.7 percent.
The Taiwan Weighted index ended down 2 percent at 6,432.36 as foreign investors sold shares and chipmakers fell. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing was down 2.4 percent.
In Seoul, the Kospi rose 1.2 percent to 613.22 as investors went bargain hunting for telecom stocks. SK Telecom, the nation's biggest mobile-phone operator, surged 7.3 percent as the Ministry of Information and Communication hinted it would delay introducing expensive third-generation services.
Australia's S&P/ASX 200 index inched up 0.2 percent to 3,296.2. Telstra edged up 0.7 percent, following the announcement of some changes to the company's board of directors.
Bangkok's SET index slipped 0.6 percent and Kuala Lumpur's KLSE Composite fell 1 percent on lingering concerns about high fuel prices. Manila's PHS Composite index ended down 0.5 percent, while Jakarta's JSX was up 1.4 percent. 
--from staff and wire reports
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