Asia-Pacific markets mixed ---

Asia-Pacific markets were mixed Friday, as some markets return from the Boxing Day holiday and investors assessed economic data from the region, reports CNBC.

China's industrial profits extended declines to a fourth straight month, dropping 7.3 per cent in November from a year earlier, signaling that Beijing's stimulus measures have yet to meaningfully stem the slide in corporate earnings.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index added 0.39 per cent while mainland China's CSI 300 closed 0.16 per cent lower to 3,981.03.

Investors assessed November inflation numbers from Japan's capital of Tokyo, which saw its headline inflation rate come in at 3%, up from 2.6 per cent in October. Core inflation, which excludes costs of fresh food, rose to 2.4 per cent.

Following the data, the Japanese yen strengthened and the 10-year government bond yield rose, indicating that traders expect the Bank of Japan to continue tightening its monetary policy.

The Nikkei 225 rose 1.8 per cent to close at 40,281.16, while the Topix added 1.26 per cent to 2,801.68.

Shares of Japanese automaker Nissan fell more than 9 per cent. Nissan and Honda started official talks to merge at the start of the week, which could create the world's third-largest carmaker by sales.

South Korea's Kospi slid 1.02 per cent while the Kosdaq traded 1.43 per cent lower to close at 2,404.77 and 665.97 respectively, as the country's political opposition is set to vote on a motion seeking to impeach the acting president.

Australia's S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.5 per cent to close at 8,261.8 as trading resumed after Christmas and Boxing Day holidays.