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Asian shares extend rally, yen edges greater as BOJ holds line

Asian shares extended their rally on Friday, bathing in the afterglow of an outsized rate of interest cut in the United States, while the yen edged higher as the Bank of Japan held rates constant and stayed upbeat on the economy.

In China, the central bank kept its benchmark financing rates on hold, countering expectations for a move lower. Chinese shares were an outlier in the region, with blue chips down 0.3%. The onshore yuan reinforced to the highest in nearly 16 months, leading to intervention by state banks to avoid it from valuing too quick.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan increased 0.7% to the highest in 2 months, tracking overnight gains on Wall Street. The index was headed for a. weekly gain of 2.5%.

The Nikkei jumped 2.1%, assisted in part by a weaker. yen as bulls took some make money from the recent rally to 14-month. highs. It is up 3.5% for the week. Nikkei futures were largely. unmoved by the BOJ choice.

The reserve bank kept its short-term rate constant at 0.25% on. Friday as extensively expected, but updated its view on intake. The market's focus will be on any hints from Guv Kazuo Ueda. on the timing and speed of additional walkings at the post-meeting. press conference at 0630 GMT.

The dollar was last down 0.2% at 142.31 yen,. having actually gained about 1% this week. Information launched on Friday revealed. Japan's core inflation sped up for a 4th successive. month, reinforcing the case for additional policy tightening.

Today's meeting is not expected to change the present. financial policy outlook, with the BOJ's next rate hike expected. to be in December, said IG expert Tony Sycamore.

If Ueda were to put extra emphasis on the bank's. positive outlook on rates and financial activity, it would. likely be deemed hawkish, possibly driving USD/JPY back. towards 140.00.

Overnight, Wall Street finally had the time to absorb the. Federal Reserve's very first rate cut. With more relieving to come,. financiers are wagering on continued U.S. economic growth, and. better-than-expected unemployed claims information added to the view that. the labour market remained healthy.

Markets indicate a 40% possibility the Fed will cut by another 50. basis points in November and have 73 basis points priced in by. year-end. Rates are seen at 2.85% by the end of 2025, which is. now thought to be the Fed's estimate of neutral.

U.S. stock futures were slightly lower on Friday. The S&P. 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average rose to a record close on. Thursday, while Nasdaq jumped 2.5%, spearheaded by tech shares.

In forex markets, the dollar was pinned near. 1 year lows against major currencies. The British pound. held at $1.3278, having actually rallied 0.7% over night to the. highest since March 2022 as the Bank of England held rates. steady.

Short-dated U.S. Treasuries held near to two-year highs. Two-year Treasury yields slipped 3 basis points on. Friday but were flat for the week.

Products also kept their weekly gains. Gold. hovered near a record high at $2,592.17 an ounce and oil prices. are set for their 2nd straight week of gain.

Brent futures slipped 0.3% to $74.69 a barrel, however. are still up 4.2% today.

(source: Reuters)