Asian markets opened mostly higher Friday, after U.S. indexes ended higher and oil prices hit 2016 highs.
Australia's S&P/ASX 200 was up 0.41 percent, boosted by a 1.88 percent gain in its materials subindex and its energy subindex advancing 1.28 percent.
Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 opened down 1.47 percent, extending its fall over the previous three sessions. The index ended 0.22 percent lower on Thursday.
Wall St moved higher on Thursday, pushing the Dow Jones industrial average into positive territory for the year, as commodity prices rose on the back of a weaker U.S. dollar to boost shares in the energy and materials sectors.
The Dow's move into positive territory came a day after the U.S. Federal Reserve took a dovish stance that weighed on the dollar.
The Dow Jones industrial average .DJI closed up 155.73 points, or 0.9 percent, at 17,481.49. The S&P 500 .SPX gained 13.37 points, or 0.66 percent, to 2,040.59 and the Nasdaq Composite .IXIC added 11.02 points, or 0.23 percent, to 4,774.99.
Reference: CNBC, Reuters
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