TOKYO – Asian shares rose Friday, echoing a rally on Wall Street, as hopes grew for a gradual global economic recovery from the damage of the coronavirus pandemic.
Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 surged 1.3% in afternoon trading to 28,716.68. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 rose 1.1% to 6,840.50, and South Korea's Kospi climbed 0.7% to 3,107.88.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng jumped 0.8% to 29,337.67, while the Shanghai Composite gained 0.5% to 3,520.70. Venkateswaran Lavanya of Mizuho Bank in Singapore said Asian markets are getting a lift from positive employment data from the U.S., which has set off a mood of “confidence about the U.S.