Banking stocks also fell after Citigroup Inc. said overnight it plans to assume control of the seven "structured investment vehicles" the bank advises to help them repay their debts. Mizuho Financial Group sank 4.9 percent and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group fell 4.78 percent.

Meanwhile, the dollar's recent recovery against the yen helped lifted exporters like Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. and Nintendo.

With no major market-moving news expected next week, traders expect the Nikkei to be volatile.

In Hong Kong, shares fell on continued concern about the U.S. economy and expectations China might raise interest rates this weekend to curb inflation.

The blue chip Hang Seng Index fell 180.81 points, or 0.65 percent, to 27,563.64. It's dropped 6.8 percent since it closed at 29,530.32 last Thursday.

Traders said the correction may not be over yet and selling pressure will remain in the near term on continuing concerns over the weakening U.S. economy.

"Trading has become lethargic with no positive leads now," said Castor Pang, a strategist at Sun Hung Kai Research.

Banks were under pressure Friday on uncertainty over the impact of the sub-prime crisis. Industrial and Commercial Bank of China fell 3.4 while China Construction Bank dropped 2.4 percent.

But on the mainland, stocks rose, led by strong gains in liquor makers who are expected to benefit from higher food prices. A rebound in property developers also helped buoy the market.

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index gained 1 percent, or 49.86 points, to 5,007.91.

In currency trading, the dollar was trading at 112.42 yen at 4:50 p.m. (0750 GMT) Friday, up from 112.21 yen late Thursday in New York. The euro edged down to US$1.4625 from US$1.4627.

BANGKOK: Thailand's main stock index rose 0.4 percent to 836.40.

JAKARTA: Indonesian shares fell amid the general risk aversion clouding regional markets. The main stock index dropped 0.6 percent to finish at 2,740.1.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian shares declined in profit-taking ahead of the weekend, with overall trading activity sluggish. The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index fell 0.5 percent to 1,403.4.

MANILA: Philippine shares tumbled, hurt by foreign selling as stock markets retreated around the region. The Philippine Stock Exchange Index fell 2.4 percent to 3,538.7.

MUMBAI: Indian share prices fell 0.37 percent in choppy and rangebound trade in line with a weakening of Asian markets amid general concern about the outlook for the U.S. economy, dealers said. The benchmark 30-share Sensex fell 73.56 points to 20,030.83, off the day's high of 20,171.57.

SEOUL: South Korean shares fell as stock of companies with business in China were dragged lower on worries about higher rates and that new Chinese labor laws will make it more difficult next year on foreign companies operating there. The Korea Composite Stock Price Index, or Kospi, fell 1.1 percent to 1,895.1.

SINGAPORE: Singapore shares sank for the third straight session on the enduring worries over the U.S. economy and as markets dropped throughout Asia. The Straits Times Index lost 0.4 percent to close at 3,466.4.

SYDNEY: Australian stocks fell on broad selling as traders fretted about how Wall Street might react to more news on the U.S. subprime lending crisis. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index dropped 1.6 percent to 6,491.7.

WELLINGTON: New Zealand stocks rose slightly as worries over problems in global credit markets, high domestic interest rates and a strong local currency kept investors on the sidelines. The benchmark NZX-50 gained 0.2 percent to 4,008.7.