Asian stocks mostly higher at Friday close

By Tuba Sahin

ANKARA (AA) – Major Asian stock markets closed Friday mostly higher amid retreat in oil prices and geopolitical tension.

Oil prices jumped on Friday as ongoing talks between Ukraine and Russia failed to bring the sides closer toward a resolution to end the war.

International benchmark Brent crude was trading at $108.53 per barrel for a 1.77% gain after closing the previous session at $106.64 a barrel.

The Asia Dow, which includes blue-chip companies in the region, rose 4.2 points, or 0.12%, to around 3,553 points at 9.43GMT.

Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 stock exchange was up by 174.5 points, or 0.65%, to 26,827.

The Bank of Japan on Friday decided to maintain its monetary easing policy as it kept the policy rate unchanged at minus 0.1.%, unlike other major central banks such as the US' Fed and Bank of England which shifted to a tighter policy and hiking interest rates.

China’s Shanghai stock exchange posted the highest rise among other major markets, increasing 36 points, or 1.12%, to 3,251 at the daily close.

The Hang Seng, the benchmark for blue-chip stocks trading on the Hong Kong stock exchange, was the sole index posting decline at Friday's close, falling 88.8 points, or 0.41%, to 21,412.

The Singapore index rose 7.92 points, or 0.24%, to 3,330.

There was no transaction at Indian stock market on Friday due to the Holi festival across the county.