Summary Dealers in Hong Kong and Shanghai are also cautious before a Chinese Communist Party gathering.
HONG KONG (AFP) - Asian markets slipped on Thursday as investors awaited the release of US data on jobs and economic growth, while the euro held up ahead of a closely watched European Central Bank meeting.
Tokyo eased 0.76 percent, or 108.87 points, to 14,228.44, Sydney lost 0.22 percent, or 11.8 points, to end at 5,422.0 and Seoul fell 0.53 percent, or 10.54 points, to 2,002.90.
Shanghai gave up 0.48 percent, or 10.21 points, to 2,129.40 and in the afternoon Hong Kong was down 0.56 percent.
Dealers in Hong Kong and Shanghai are also cautious before a Chinese Communist Party gathering at the weekend that is expected to outline its economic policy for the next five years.
With most corporate reporting out of the way, attention is now on the release Thursday of US third-quarter gross domestic product figures and on Friday of non-farm payrolls data for October.
The results may give traders a handle on the Federal Reserve's plans for its stimulus programme. The general consensus is that a strong set of numbers will push the bank into winding down the scheme sooner rather than later.
With recent statistics indicating the economy was not severely affected by last month's government shutdown, there is a feeling the Fed will start to taper either in December or early next year.
Speculation that the Fed will soon begin to cut down on its $85 billion-a-month bond-buying scheme has provided support to the dollar.
It has gained about a yen over the past week. In Tokyo trade Thursday it was sitting at 98.63 yen, marginally down on 98.69 yen in New York Wednesday.
The euro was a little more buoyant than earlier in the week after Germany released data showing factory orders rising 3.3 percent in September.
There is speculation that the European Central Bank, meeting Thursday, will cut interest rates in response to eurozone inflation hitting a four-year low in October, which raised fears the bloc could slip into deflation.
The euro was quoted at $1.3523 and 133.39 yen in Tokyo, against $1.3517 and 133.40 yen in New York.
The single currency had fallen to as low as $1.3450 Monday after hitting a two-year high of $1.3831 last week before the inflation figures.
In New York the Dow provided a positive lead, jumping 0.82 percent Wednesday to a record high of 15,746.88. The S&P 500 rose 0.43 percent but the Nasdaq fell 0.20 percent.
On oil markets New York's main contract, West Texas Intermediate for December delivery, was up three cents at $94.83 a barrel. Brent North Sea crude for December fell 19 cents to $105.05.
Gold was at $1,318.80 per ounce at 0700 GMT compared with $1,317.35 on Wednesday.
In other markets:
-- Taipei was flat, edging up 1.74 points to 8,283.71.
Smartphone maker HTC rose 4.45 percent to Tw$152.5 while Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. was flat at Tw$107.0.
-- Wellington lost 0.44 percent, or 21.88 points, to end at 4,922.69.
Telecoms infrastructure provider Chorus was down 9.29 percent at NZ$2.10, Telecom fell 0.87 percent to NZ$2.29 and Fletcher Building was up 0.21 percent at NZ$9.52.
