Asian markets settled higher on Friday, as the robust US economic data trivialized jitters over economic slowdown of world's biggest economy. Optimism that Federal Reserve will reduce interest rates by 25 basis points by September and anticipations of fresh fiscal stimulus from Beijing also boosted investor confidence. Nikkie gained the most among Asian indices and marked its second largest daily gain for the year, as the earning prospects of exporters got boosted by the plunge of the local currency yen. The robust Q2 economic data of Japan overshadowed woes about BoJ's hawkish shift and eased fears of a massive carry unwind.
| Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
| Shanghai Composite | 2,879.43 | 2.07 | 0.07 |
| Hang Seng | 17,430.16 | 321.02 | 1.84 |
| Jakarta Composite | 7,432.09 | 22.59 | 0.30 |
| KLSE Composite | 1,623.90 | 10.96 | 0.68 |
| Nikkei 225 | 38,062.67 | 1,336.03 | 3.51 |
| Straits Times | 3,352.89 | 37.16 | 1.11 |
| KOSPI Composite | 2,697.23 | 52.73 | 1.95 |
| Taiwan Weighted | 22,349.33 | 454.16 | 2.03 |
