Asian stock markets ground higher on Friday, as global crude prices eased, and traders waded back into tech issues.

Market sentiments were supported by President Donald Trump's Thursday social media post that the US would not attack Iran before the US midterm elections, and that "productive discussions with the Islamic Republic of Iran" were underway.

Brent crude futures traded down 0.9% to $103.30, during Asian market hours.

Hong Kong gained, Shanghai and Tokyo finished evenly, while trading floors in Seoul and Taiwan were dark on holiday. Most other regional exchanges finished higher.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 opened lower on Wall street cues, but rose in trading to finish essentially flat. Easing yields on 10-year Japanese government bonds boosted market mood.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 fell 11.19 to 69,030.92, as gaining issues outnumbered losers 148 to 73.

Leading the upside was software-tester Shift, up 6.5%, while Fast Retailing declined 4%.

In economic news, Japan's machine tool orders in September rose 60.4% on-year to an all-time monthly record high, reported the Japan Machine Tool Builders' Association.

Household spending in Japan fell 3.1% on year in August, though it rose 0.1% from July, reported the Ministry of Internal Affairs & Communications.

In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index opened higher and held ground, closing up 1.8% on bargain-hunting and tech-sector strength.

The broad gauge Hang Seng rose 425.56 to 24,211.35, as gaining issues outnumbered losers 79 to 14. The Hang Seng TECH Index gained 3.1% on the day, while the Mainland Properties Index rose 0.6%.

Leading the upside was smartphone-maker Xiaomi, gaining 9.7%, while China Life Insurance declined 2.2%.

On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite finished flat at 3,813.79.

On the other regional exchanges, the Australian ASX 200 inclined 0.6%; the Singapore Straits Times Index fell 0.2%, and the Thai Set inclined 0.5%. In late trading in Mumbai, the Sensex was up 1.2%.

The MSCI All Country Asia Pacific Index rose 0.4% on the day.