Shanghai share prices closed 1.36 percent lower on concerns over record high oil prices and profit-taking in petrochemicals and banks.
Dealers said the profit-taking was well contained and was to be expected given the market's advance since the revaluation of the yuan on July 21.
The Shanghai A-share Index fell 16.88 points to 1,227.12, while the Shenzhen A-share Index fell 5.62 points or 1.94 percent to 283.46. The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index, which covers A and B-shares, fell 15.66 points or 1.32 percent to 1,167.92.
The yuan closed at 8.0980 to the US dollar, another fresh high since the yuan revaluation last month.
Sydney share prices gained a modest 0.2 percent led by resource stocks, but the rise was enough to push the key market index to a record close for the seventh consecutive session. The SP/ASX 200 index closed up 9.0 points at 4,469.2.
Singapore share prices closed 0.12 percent down on Friday on profit-taking ahead of the weekend with investors having few fresh leads now that most of the leading firms have unveiled their June quarter results. The market has wiped out the 67.5-point gain it made during a six-day rally from July 26 to Aug. 2, which was spurred by banking and property stocks after the government eased home mortgage financing rules.
The Straits Times Index fell 2.77 points at 2,303.2.
In Kuala Lumpur share prices closed 0.11 percent higher but trade was sluggish as investors stayed on the sidelines amid concerns about rising oil prices and Malaysia's haze crisis.
Malaysia on Thursday declared a state of emergency in the towns of Port Klang and Kuala Selangor on its west coast after the air pollution index breached the emergency level of 500. The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index was up 0.99 points to 937.04.
Markets in Bangkok were closed for a public holiday.
In Jakarta share prices closed 1.20 percent lower on persistent concerns that another fuel price increase this year would drive up inflation and interest rates. The composite index closed down 14.003 points at 1,153.969.
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