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· Asian shares rose on Friday after global stock indexes and Wall Street posted more records, and as China’s economic growth matched expectations in spite of U.S. trade pressures.

The world’s second-largest economy grew 6.0% in the fourth quarter of 2019 from a year earlier, and 6.1% for the full year, official data showed on Friday.

While China’s growth in 2019 was the slowest pace of economic expansion in 29 years, held back by anemic domestic demand and the damaging trade war with the United States, it was in line with analyst expectations and within the government’s official target.

MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was up 0.1%.

· Japan’s benchmark share index on Friday marked its highest close in a month, after touching a 15-month peak earlier in the session, as hopes for a rebound in global demand and a softer yen drove broad-based gains.

The Nikkei 225 Index closed 0.45% firmer at 24,041.26. In early trading, it scaled its highest level since October 2018, taking gains so far this year to more than 1%. The broader Topix was 0.4% stronger.

“When you look at Japan, you’re not just looking at Japan. Half of earnings at Japanese companies are non-Japanese, so there is a big international story,” said Jim McCafferty, Joint Head of APAC Equity Research at Nomura in Hong Kong.

“As we go into earnings season we are probably going to get guidance from a number of companies that point to a strengthening in global demand.”

The formal signing of the Sino-U.S. trade agreement on Wednesday and the recent easing of tensions in the Middle East have removed uncertainty and fired hopes for a revival in global growth and demand.

· China stocks inched higher on Friday amid more signs of resilience in the world’s second-largest economy, though they posted modest weekly losses as trader pocketed gains following a rally underpinned by optimism around a Sino-U.S. trade deal.

The blue-chip CSI300 index rose 0.1%, to 4,154.85, while the Shanghai Composite Index added 0.1% to 3,075.50.

For the week, CSI300 slipped 0.2% and SSEC lost 0.5%, both snapping six straight weekly gains.

· European stocks opened higher Friday morning after China’s GDP (gross domestic product) numbers grew in line with expectations, lifting global markets.

The pan-European Stoxx 600 added 0.5% in early trade, basic resources jumping 1% to lead gains as all sectors except oil and gas entered positive territory.