Asia-Pacific equities showed mild gains on Friday, following Wall Street’s lead higher overnight, but negative job and industrial activity data added to the opacity of the outlook for the US economy.

Japan showed very little direction, with investors paying little attention to the first quarter GDP numbers that showed the country’s economy grew 1 per cent year on year. The Nikkei 225 reversed its earlier tiny gain to close slightly down 0.2 per cent at 14,219.48. The broader Topix closed up 0.2 per cent at 1.395.87, unable to maintain its hold on the 1,400 level.