DEBORAH MARCHINI, CNN ANCHOR: Most of the Asian markets finished on the upside for the day. Tokyo jumped nearly two percent after Goldman Sachs upgraded a group of high-tech stocks, some familiar names among them.</s>DAVID HAFFENREFFER, CNN ANCHOR: Our Lorraine Hahn wraps up the day in Asia now from our studios in Hong Kong. Good morning, Lorraine.</s>LORRAINE HAHN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, David and Deborah. Pretty mixed day, actually, in Asia with investors still cautious ahead of U.S. economic data that is out Friday. In Japan, the market shook-off the collapse of a mid-size life insurer, instead investors focused on select high-tech issues like Softbank, which was also supported by brokerage upgrade. Its stock ending 4 1/4 percent higher. Overall, the Nikkei put on 2 1/4 percent. Here in Hong Kong, shares extended Wednesday's gains, adding another 1.5 percent today. Benchmark China Telecom put on almost one percent, while conglomerate Cheung Kong gained almost five percent. Now, notable among the losers today, the seven Nasdaq newcomers. This was attributed to the Nasdaq's volatile and uncertain trend. Cisco Systems closed down 5 1/3 percent at 456 Hong Kong dollars a share, while Intel was off two percent and Microsoft dropped almost four percent to 495 Hong Kong dollars a share. Finally, in South Korea, the market ending almost one percent higher. The big news there was the announcement that the Chung family of the Hyundai Group have agreed to give up their management responsibilities. Analysts say, this signals a massive victory for the government, under pressure to push ahead with reforms. And that's a quick check from here in Asia. Back to you both in New York.</s>MARCHINI: Thanks, Lorraine.
Asian Markets Cautious Ahead of U.S. Economic Data