Asian markets settled mostly higher on Friday tracking Wall Street gains overnight as weak US retail sales data sent Treasury yields down and added to expectations that the US central bank will cut interest rates in coming months. Meanwhile, investors were awaiting US producer price inflation, consumer sentiment and housing starts data due later in the day that might offer additional clues on the interest-rate outlook. Hong Kong shares jumped, led by property developers as policymakers intensify efforts to rescue the struggling property sector. Meanwhile, investors were accumulating stocks ahead of the reopening of China markets next week after the week-long Lunar New Year holidays. Japanese shares hit a fresh 34-year high amid dovish BoJ expectations. BoJ governor Kazuo Ueda said the central bank will examine whether to maintain its various monetary easing measures, including negative interest rates, when sustained achievement of its inflation target comes into sight.
| Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
| Shanghai Composite | -- | -- | -- |
| Hang Seng | 16,339.96 | 395.33 | 2.42 |
| Jakarta Composite | 7,335.54 | 32.26 | 0.44 |
| KLSE Composite | 1,533.55 | 5.17 | 0.34 |
| Nikkei 225 | 38,487.24 | 329.30 | 0.86 |
| Straits Times | 3,221.94 | 45.25 | 1.40 |
| KOSPI Composite | 2,648.76 | 34.96 | 1.32 |
| Taiwan Weighted | 18,607.25 | -37.32 | -0.20 |
