Asian Market Update

Asian markets were broadly higher Friday following another record close on Wall Street, while the Nikkei resumed its surge as a brief rally in the yen fizzled out.

Traders were also buoyed by comments from the head of the European Central Bank that it was ready to widen its stimulus programme to support the eurozone economy.

Tokyo rose 0.74 per cent a day after easing for the first time this week on profit-taking. The index has soared more than 10 per cent since last Wednesday, helped by the Bank of Japan's surprise announcement that it will widen its own monetary base.