Stocks in Japan continued to push higher after the U.S. market
closed mixed overnight, while Korean shares edged higher amid the
central bank's decision to keep interest rates fixed there.
The Nikkei Stock Index was up 0.2%, extending gains fromThursday
that put the index above 15,900 for the first time since
January.
A recent rise in long-term interest rates in the U.S. and
geopolitical issues have weighed on stocks, with the U.S. trading
in the red for most of Thursday's session. President Barack Obama
laid out a plan to fight the militant group Islamic State on
Wednesday, while the European Union said Thursday it would
implement new sanctions on Russia. The U.S. Federal Reserve meets
next week, which could give investors more clarity on officials"
timeline for an increase in rates.
"The Nikkei might test the 16000 mark intraday, but it would
take another surge in the dollar to do it," said Hiroichi Nishi,
SMBC Nikko Securities general manager of equities. The dollar was
last up 0.1% at Yen107.18, from Yen107.10 late Thursday in New
York.
The Kospi was up 0.2%, after the Bank of Korea decided to keep
interest rates on hold. The central bank cut the rate last month to
2.25%. Signs of economic recovery have been mixed, but investors
expected rates to remain on hold.
Write to Chao Deng at Chao.Deng@wsj.com
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