Most Asian markets extended a global rally Wednesday as investors gave a cautious welcome to Donald Trump's first full day in office amid hopes he will take a more cautious approach on trade than initially feared.

Japan’s central bank isn’t responsible for the bloodbath. But it’s reliving a terrible habit of hiking rates at the worst possible time.

About 85.7% of Japanese households expect prices to rise a year from now, a quarterly central bank survey in December showed on Friday, roughly unchanged from 85.6% in the previous poll in September.

The Nikkei stock index snapped a five-day losing streak Thursday on optimism over the U.S. economy as hopes grew for further interest

HONG KONG (AP) — Asian stocks were mixed Wednesday followed Wall Street’s mostly positive performance ahead of key U.S. inflation data that could influence the pace of market-boosting rate cuts by the Federal Reserve. U.S. futures and oil prices were little changed. Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 index edged 0.1% higher to 38,505.54.

TOKYO--Japan's top currency official pledged to stay on guard against potential reaction in the foreign exchange market to President Trump's policies, which have already caused some swings in the yen on Tuesday.

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's top currency diplomat Atsushi Mimura said on Tuesday a weak yen would push up inflation by boosting import costs, stressing the need to underpin consumption by turning real wages to positive territory.

THE EXPECTATION: The Bank of Japan looks set to raise interest rates this week, unless what Donald Trump says in his inauguration address as U.S. president on Monday rattles financial markets, according to people familiar with the central bank's thinking.

TOKYO (Reuters) - The Bank of Japan is expected to raise interest rates on Friday barring any market shocks when U.S. President-elect Donald Trump takes office, a move that would lift short-term borrowing costs to levels unseen since the 2008 global financial crisis.

U.S. stock indexes are rallying toward the close of their best week in two months. The S&P 500 rose 1.1% Friday.

Asian shares have advanced following a rally on Wall Street driven by encouraging update on U.S. inflation. Oil prices rose and U.S. futures were little changed. Bank of Japan data

Hang Seng Index gains on softer US inflation as real estate and tech stocks rally; Asian markets eye Fed’s rate path for further cues.