According to a report from the Wall Street Journal,the Nikkei 225 index fell 0.9% amid a firmer yen. The Japanese currency, which briefly broke the 97 handle in Asian trade, was last trading around ¥98.09 to the dollar versus ¥98.36 late Thursday in New York.
South Korea was a bright spot in the region after the country reported a stronger-than-expected 7.3% rise in exports last month. Economists polled by The Wall Street Journal on average expected a 4.5% rise. Imports rose 5.1%, also more than expected.
Investors have flocked to South Korean stocks since late summer, attracted by the country's strong finances and stable currency. The benchmark Kospi index rose 0.5% Friday, the biggest gainer in Asian trade.
Stocks in Hong Kong and China registered modest gains despite concerns surrounding China's factory sector last month.
"Although the PMI rose in October for the fourth consecutive month, the momentum driving the increase is unbalanced," said Zhao Qinghe, a spokesman for China's National Bureau of Statistics.
