The MSCI Asia Pacific Index climbed, though remains on track for a weekly decline.

·         Japan’s Nikkei raced to a 27-year high on Friday on the back of a lower yen and improved prospects for corporate earnings, while optimism over the U.S. economy’s short-term outlook supported broad risk appetite and the dollar.

Japan’s Nikkei stock index rose as high as 24,286.10 points, reaching its highest levels since November 1991, on renewed optimism about the global economy and hopes of a boost to exporters’ earnings from a weaker yen. It was last up 1.5 percent.

·         China stocks ended higher on Friday, marking their second consecutive weekly gain, aided by Beijing’s stimulus measures to offset the impact of a trade war and on expectations that more Chinese shares will be included in mainstream global benchmarks.

The blue-chip CSI300 index ended 1 percent higher at 3,438.86, while the Shanghai Composite Index closed up 1.1 percent at 2,821.35 points.