Asian shares edged down on Friday but were on track for weekly gains, while the euro became more settled after the volatility seen in the wake of the European Central Bank's decision to trim the size of its asset purchase program while also extending it for longer than many analysts had expected.
MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS dipped 0.3 percent, and was poised for a weekly gain of 1.9 percent.
Japanese stocks rose to their highest level in a year on Friday, supported by Wall Street gains and solid buying of exporters on the back of a weaker yen.
The benchmark Nikkei gained 1.2 percent to 18,996.37, the highest closing level since December 2015.
China's blue-chip index ended higher on Friday, thanks to better-than-expected inflation data pointing to signs of a stabilising economy, but it snapped an eight-week winning streak after a top regulator warned against "barbaric" takeover deals.
For the day, the blue-chip CSI300 index rose 0.7 percent, to 3,493.70 points, while the Shanghai Composite Index gained 0.5 percent to 3,232.88 points.
Hong Kong stocks snapped a three-day winning streak on Friday, with casino shares leading broad market losses following reports that Beijing would put additional limits on ATM cash withdrawals in the gambling haven of Macau.
The benchmark Hang Seng index fell 0.4 percent, to 22,760.98 points, while the Hong Kong China Enterprises Index lost 0.3 percent, to 9,867.95 points.
Reference: Reuters
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