G20 finance chiefs and central bankers will meet on Friday and Saturday. Current market turmoil and a global economic slowdown are expected to be key topics of discussion.
Japan's Nikkei rose to its highest close in almost three weeks on Friday after risk sentiment recovered on a steadily weakening yen and overnight gains on Wall Street.
The Nikkei share average edged up 0.30 percent to 16,188.41 for its highest close since Feb. 8. Japan's benchmark index added about 1.4 percent for the week.
China stocks posted modest gains on Friday as markets took a breather after sharp losses in the previous session, while investors awaited policy messages from Chinese and global leaders gathering in Shanghai for a G20 meeting.
The blue-chip CSI300 index, which tumbled more than 6 percent on Thursday, gained 0.65 percent to 2,937.65 points by lunch time, while the Shanghai Composite Index edged up 0.43 percent to 2,753.09.
Hong Kong shares rose more than 2 percent on Friday, buoyed by a rebound in mainland China markets that prompted investors to hunt for bargains after losses in the previous session.
The Hang Seng index surged 2.5 percent to 19,364.15 points, its best day in nearly two weeks.
For the week, it gained 0.4 percent despite a loss of more than 3 percent for China's main benchmark indexes.
European equities extended the previous session's strong rally on Friday, tracking gains on Wall Street and in Asia, with stronger metals prices and some encouraging company updates supporting the market.
The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index was up 1.3 percent in early trading after closing 2 percent higher in the previous session. The index headed for its second positive week in a row.
Miners topped the leaderboard, with the STOXX Europe 600 Basic Resources index gaining 2.4 following sharp gains in the prices of key industrial metals such as copper and aluminium.
Reference: Reuters
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