Asian shares edged closer to 14-month highs on Friday while the dollar was on the defensive as investors grew more convinced that the Federal Reserve is settling into a phase of very gradual interest rate hikes.
MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS was steady and within sight of its highest levels since July 2015 that it hit in early September.
Japan's Nikkei .N225 dipped 0.2 percent, reflecting the yen's gains during Japan's market holiday on Thursday.
U.S. stocks climbed on Thursday, with big tech names leading broad gains, building on strength from a day earlier that was fueled by the Federal Reserve's decision to stand pat on interest rates.
The S&P 500 tallied its best two-day performance in more than two months, while the Nasdaq closed at a record high.
The Dow Jones industrial average .DJI rose 98.76 points, or 0.54 percent, to 18,392.46, the S&P 500 .SPX gained 14.06 points, or 0.65 percent, to 2,177.18 and the Nasdaq Composite .IXIC added 44.34 points, or 0.84 percent, to 5,339.52.
Reference: Reuters
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