Investing.com - Asian Pacific markets opened higher on Friday, taking cues from another day of gains on Wall Street.
By 11:15 am AEDT (12:15 am GMT) the S&P/ASX 200 added 0.1% and the Nikkei 225 lifted 0.4%, while the KOSPI 200 remained close for a public holiday.
On the bond market, the yield on Australian 2-year government bonds was up at 3.76%, and the 10-year yield also increased to 4.10%. US Treasury notes were up, with the 2-year yield at 4.45% and the 10-year yield at 4.15%.
In Asia, Chinese shares rallied on the last trading day before the lengthy Lunar New Year holiday which starts on Friday. Investors are awaiting further policy support after the recently released CPI data suggested a deeper deflation. Major stocks like semiconductor company SMIC and EV Battery maker CATL saw gains, while Bank of Ningbo and China CITIC Bank Corp. reported declines.
Hong Kong shares closed lower amidst a risk-off mood. The biggest losers were Wuxi Biologics, WuXi AppTec, and Alibaba (NYSE:BABA) Group, while Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp. and China Resources Land reported gains.
Japan's Nikkei Stock Average rose 2.1% to close at a 34-year high of 36863.28, tracking Wall Street's gains. Pharmaceutical firm Kyowa Kirin and investment company SoftBank Group reported significant increases.
Indian shares closed lower, dragged down by bank stocks, after the country's central bank kept its policy rate unchanged due to easing inflation. ITC Ltd. led the losses, while Power Grid Corp. of India and Lupin reported gains.
In Europe, shares traded mixed as investors kept a close eye on the escalating Middle East tensions, which boosted oil prices. Brent crude rose 2.7% to $81.32 a barrel. Dutch payment-processing firm Adyen was the top riser, while Maersk reported losses.