Asian markets end higher on better US data

Asian markets went home mostly higher on Friday as investors were geared up to take risk after a report showed the number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits rose less than expected last week and the European Central Bank said it was ready to buy bonds of troubled euro zone countries. Japan’s Nikkei posted modest gains and ended higher as Bank of Japan kept monetary policy unchanged, but cut its assessment of the economy, citing weakening exports and production. Meanwhile, Hang Seng market garnered half a percent gains with mainland automakers leading the gainers; Malaysia's KLSE Composite ended marginally down. Financial markets in China remained closed.