Osaka, Japan.
Jiale Tan | Moment | Getty Images
Asia-Pacific markets climbed Friday, after the S&P 500 hit record highs overnight as U.S. President Donald Trump called for lower interest rates and cheaper oil prices.
The Bank of Japan raised policy rate by 25 basis points to 0.5% — the highest since 2008 and in line with economists’ expectations. Following the decision, the Japanese yen weakened marginally to trade at 155.18 against the dollar.
Earlier on Friday, Japan reported its core inflation rate rose to a 16-month high of 3% in December, year on year.
The country’s benchmark Nikkei 225 index rose 0.11%, while the Topix gained 0.18%.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index gained 2.06% while China’s CS1300 benchmark has advanced 0.83%
South Korea’s Kospi gained 0.58%, while the Kosdaq rose 0.87%.
Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 rose for a third straight week. The index ended the day up 0.36% at 8,408.9.
Singapore’s central bank eased its monetary policy in line with market expectations, given the rise in core inflation levels in December.
Overnight in the U.S., the S&P 500 added 0.53%, notching an all-time intraday high for the second straight session to finish the day at 6,118.71.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 408.34 points, or 0.92%, to 44,565.07, while the Nasdaq Composite rose 0.22% to 20,053.68. Thursday marked the fourth straight winning session for all three major indexes.
— CNBC’s Alex Harring and Jesse Pound contributed to this report.
