The deal's longer-term appeal, analysts said, was the opportunity to expand deeper into some of their fast-growing markets in Asia.
Markets in China and Hong Kong lagged, despite a rally in Alibaba Group Holding after the weekend announcement of a record antitrust fine removed a regulatory overhang
Asian companies, like their global peers, notched their best first quarter for listings ever, thanks to a flood of liquidity during the pandemic, super-low interest rates, and rallying stock markets
US equity futures edged up after the S&P 500 closed above 4,000 for the first time
In Asian trading, Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 dropped 2.1 per cent in afternoon trading to 29,174.15. South Korea's Kospi lost 0.1 per cent
MSCI's broadest gauge index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan gained 0.45% on Friday morning, supported by tech gains
Japan's Nikkei 225 futures added 0.62per cent and Hong Kong's Hang Seng index futures rose 0.55per cent
The Japanese yen hit a seven-month low on the dollar on Thursday as hopes that vaccine distribution and more government stimulus will drive the US economy into a solid rebound
Stocks advanced in Asia on Wednesday after a wobbly day on Wall Street, when the S&P 500 gave back most of its gains from a day earlier. Hong Kong led the advance, gaining 1.7 per cent. Tokyo, Seoul, Shanghai and Sydney also were higher. Investors have taken heart from an easing in bond prices that has alleviated worries over possible interest rate hikes. Bond yields have eased and the yield on the 10-year Treasury inched down to 1.40 per cent early Wednesday. But expectations for stronger economic growth in coming months continue to fuel worries that interest rates will head higher. It feels like we are in the eye of the storm," Stephen Innes of Axi said in a commentary. Investors have recently focused on selling high-priced technology shares but are also watching for policy changes as President Joe Biden's USD 1.9 billion stimulus package heads into the Senate after narrowly passing in the House. How much overheating and inflation will the Biden fiscal stimulus generate remains
Wall Street had retreated overnight after beginning March with a bang, with the S&P 500 staging its best one-day rally in nine months on Monday
Though some Asian markets pared gains after China's top banking regulator raised concerns over asset bubbles, the Indian markets outperformed
Demand for riskier assets did not slug the dollar, usually regarded as a safe-haven currency
MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan edged up 0.1%, after shedding 3.7% last Friday'
Australia's S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.90% in early trade while Japan's Nikkei 225 added 1.37%. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index futures rose 0.92%
The tech-heavy Nasdaq index closed down 0.5% as investors sold the big tech stocks that have driven the market rally since last March
Japan's Nikkei recouped 1.0% and South Korea 0.4%, while E-Mini futures for the S&P 500 were a fraction firmer
MSCI's broadest index of Asia Pacific shares outside of Japan was last down 0.1per cent at 733.67 from a record high of 745.89 touched on Thursday
Dow Jones Industrial Average scored another record closing high on Tuesday, climbing 0.2%. The S&P 500 fell 0.06%, and the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.34%
Bitcoin surged yet again to a new record high after BNY Mellon said it will offer custodian services for cryptocurrencies
The Tokyo stock exchange Nikkei index reached record highs since August 1990 at Monday opening, the Kyodo news agency reports