This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-33547405

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Asian markets edge up on a strong lead from Wall Street Japan's Nikkei index rises for fifth day
(about 5 hours later)
Asian markets edged slightly higher on Friday morning, taking the lead from good overnight results on Wall Street. Japan's Nikkei index registered its biggest weekly gain since October, while Asian shares were mostly higher as worries over Greece and China eased.
The Nasdaq closed at a record high while the Dow Jones and the S&P 500 also ended in positive territory. The Nikkei 225 closed up 50.80 points at 20,650.92, its fifth gain in a row, having risen by 4.4% over the week.
Japan's Nikkei 225, Asia's largest stock market, followed suit, rising by 0.2% to 20,650.20 in early trade. Shares in electronics giant Sharp fell 4% on reports that it would report a loss for the April to June quarter.
But shares in the electronics giant Sharp fell 3% on local media reports that it would report a loss for the April to June quarter. In mainland China, stocks rose with the Shanghai Composite climbing 3.5% to 3,955.28.
In South Korea, investors were looking ahead to a shareholder vote underway at construction firm Samsung C&T on whether it can go ahead with merger plans with holding company Cheil Industries. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index was 1.2% higher at 25,472.43.
The merger had come under fire from US hedge fund Elliott, the third-largest shareholder in Samsung C&T. In South Korea, shareholders of construction firm Samsung C&T have approved the merger plans with holding company Cheil Industries.
Shares of Cheil were up by 0.3% while Samsung C&T traded flat. The deal had been strongly criticised by US hedge fund Elliott Associates, the third-largest shareholder in Samsung C&T.
The country's benchmark Kospi index was largely unchanged at 2,087.78 points. The share prices of both firms dived after the vote, with Samsung C&T closing down 10.4% and Cheil dropping 7.7%.
In mainland China, stocks were in positive territory in early trading, the Shanghai Composite was up 0.1% to 3,825.12 points. The country's benchmark Kospi index closed down 0.5% at 2,076.79.
The Hong Kong Hang Seng was up 0.3% at 25,241.74. In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 index was flat at 5,671.10 points.
Traders are closely watching the Chinese indexes to gauge whether regulators' measures to stop the plunge of the past weeks have taken hold.
In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 index bucked the region's trend, falling 0.3% to 5,655.70 points.
But Evan Lucas, market strategist with IG, said in a note that he was optimistic about the general outlook for Australian stocks.But Evan Lucas, market strategist with IG, said in a note that he was optimistic about the general outlook for Australian stocks.
"China worries have died down and Greece is now a non-issue (until September, anyway). The next month or two may be the first positive months since February.""China worries have died down and Greece is now a non-issue (until September, anyway). The next month or two may be the first positive months since February."