• The Dow Jones Industrial Average .DJI rose 93.85 points, or 0.38 percent, to close at 24,895.21, the S&P 500 .SPX gained 12.17 points, or 0.45 percent, to2,738.97 and the Nasdaq Composite .IXIC added 31.30 points, or 0.42 percent, to 7,427.95.
The three major U.S. stock indexes closed higher on Thursday after President Donald Trump appeared to soften his stance on trade tariffs, easing trade war fears that had had the market on edge for a week.
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• Markets in Asia traded higher early on Friday, tracking moderate gains seen on Wall Street following the implementation of U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum. Markets awaited the Bank of Japan's interest rates decision due later.
South Korean envoys reportedly hand-delivered a letter on Thursday from North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to President Donald Trump calling for talks, according to a report from CNN.
• Japan's Nikkei 225 rose 1.19 percent in early trade and the broader Topix index gained 1 percent, with all but its iron and steel sub-index trading in negative territory.
• South Korea's Kospi advanced 0.66 percent, with steel producers underperforming the index. Posco and Hyundai Steel declined 1.54 percent and 1.15 percent, respectively, while other manufacturing names traded firmly higher.
Reference: Reuters, CNBC
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