Asian markets settled mostly higher on Friday, tracking Wall Street gains overnight as bullish forecasts on AI demand buoyed technology shares. Japanese shares gained as signs of slowing inflation for a second straight month boosted expectations that the Bank of Japan (BoJ) will keep its ultra-low interest rates steady next week. However, some gains were limited by lower prospects of an interest rate cut from the US Federal Reserve in March after strong labour market data, while Atlanta Fed President Raphael Bostic expects policymakers to start cutting interest rates in the third quarter of this year. Chinese shares declined after reports that the country's largest brokerage has suspended short selling for some clients in mainland markets.
| Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
| Shanghai Composite | 2,832.28 | -13.50 | -0.48 |
| Hang Seng | 15,308.69 | -83.10 | -0.54 |
| Jakarta Composite | 7,227.40 | -25.57 | -0.35 |
| KLSE Composite | 1,486.37 | 7.19 | 0.49 |
| Nikkei 225 | 35,963.27 | 497.10 | 1.38 |
| Straits Times | 3,152.29 | 12.51 | 0.40 |
| KOSPI Composite | 2,472.74 | 32.70 | 1.32 |
| Taiwan Weighted | 17,681.52 | 453.73 | 2.57 |
