Germany's Volkswagen, Europe's biggest automaker, gained 2.9 percent in July to 572,200 vehicles worldwide, it said Friday.

Prime Minister Kan on Thursday said the yen's advance was too “rapid” and agreed with his right-hand man and Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshito Sengoku to closely monitor the issue.

The dollar — which slumped to a 15-year low of 84.73 on Wednesday — was changing hands at 86.10 yen in Tokyo morning trade, up from 85.88 yen late Thursday in New York.

The euro fetched US$1.2856, up from US$1.2827, while it edged up to 110.66 yen from 110.18.

However, analysts warned that the greenback was not yet out of the woods.

“We are still seeing the effect of the verbal intervention in the market, but I think it is limited,” said Hideaki Inoue, chief forex manager at Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corp.

“When you look at the market environment in the United States and Europe, the conditions bringing the yen higher still remain, possibly making it rise to the 85-yen level,” he said.

On stock markets Tokyo closed 0.44 percent higher, adding 40.87 points to 9,253.46, while Sydney jumped 1.33 percent, or 58.7 points, to 4,459.6.

Shanghai rose 1.21 percent, or 31.23 points, to 2,606.70 and Seoul closed 1.42 percent, or 24.49 points, higher at 1,746.24.

But Hong Kong traders could not shake growing concerns over the world outlook, ending down 0.16 percent, or 34.14 points, at 21,071.57, its fourth straight loss.

Dealers moved to pick up bargains after three days of heavy losses caused by weak economic data from Europe, the United States and China.

However, they were given a poor lead from Wall Street, where the Dow dropped 0.57 percent after fresh data showed U.S. jobless claims jumped last week to the highest level in about six months.

Initial claims climbed 2,000 to 484,000 in the week to Aug. 7 from the previous week's upwardly revised figure of 482,000. Most economists had expected 465,000 new claims.

The news added to woes caused by figures showing the U.S. trade gap widened sharply in June — to the highest level in 20 months — with many fearing that the world's biggest economy would experience a double-dipped recession.

Gold opened at US$1,211.50-US$1,212.50 an ounce, up from Thursday's closing price of US$1,201.00-US$1,202.00.

In other markets:

— Singapore closed up 0.44 percent, or 12.93 points, at 2,939.97.

Wilmar International fell 2.34 percent to SG$6.13 while Jardine Cycle and Carriage gained 1.02 percent to 33.60.

— Taipei rose 0.79 percent, or 61.79 points, to 7,891.58.

HTC rose 1.03 percent to NT$590.0 while Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company fell 0.17 percent to 60.1.

— Manila fell 0.39 percent, or 13.50 points, to 3,469.52.

Investment holding firm DMCI Holdings fell 1.5 percent to 20.35 pesos and property developer Ayala Land was down 2.0 percent at 14.88.

— Kuala Lumpur closed up 0.80 percent, or 10.82 points, at 1,360.15.

Gaming giant Genting climbed 6.2 percent to 8.18 ringgit as telecoms firm Axiata rose 2.8 percent to 4.37 and hotel property company Pacific & Orient slid 3.2 percent to 1.20.

— Jakarta rose 0.90 percent,or 27.36 points, to 3,053.01.

Car maker Astra rose 1.5 percent to 48,300 rupiah, Telkom ended up 1.2 percent at 8,500 and Bank Negara gained five percent to 3,150 rupiah.

— Wellington rose 0.27 percent, or 8.22 points, to 3,015.13.

Children's clothing retailer Pumpkin Patch added 1.2 percent to NZ$1.75 while outdoor clothing retailer Kathmandu rose 1.9 percent to 1.64. But rural services provider PGG Wrightson shed 7.1 percent to 0.52.

— Mumbai rose 0.52 percent, or 93.13 points to 18,167.03.

State Bank of India rose 2.35 percent to 2,849.4 rupees a day after it posted a 25 percent rise in profit for the April-June quarter.

Top property firm DLF rose 2.12 percent to 322.45.

— Bangkok was closed for a public holiday.

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