Asian shares, euro extend gains as debt fears ease

HONG KONG: Asian markets rose for a fourth straight day Friday on strong French and Spanish bond sales, the lowest US jobs claims for almost four years and hopes Greece will agree a debt deal with its creditors.

The euro also strengthened against the dollar and the yen as fears over the eurozone crisis abated while financial plays were lifted by more upbeat earnings reports from US banks.

Tokyo gained 1.33 percent by the break, while Hong Kong rose 0.96 percent - moving above 20,000 points for the first time since early November - while Sydney was 0.46 percent higher, Seoul climbed 0.88 percent and Shanghai edged up 0.12 percent.

On forex markets the euro continued its advance higher, heading back towards $1.30 and 100 yen as traders took on more risk.

The common unit bought $1.2964 in early Asian trade, more than a cent higher than Tokyo on Thursday.

It was also at 99.88 yen compared with 98.68 yen in Asia Thursday, while the dollar fetched 77.10 yen from 76.75 yen.

New York's main contract light sweet crude for delivery in February gained 11 cents to $100.50 per barrel and Brent North Sea crude for March delivery was down one cent to $111.54.

Gold was at $1,655.80 an ounce at 0315 GMT, against $1,663.60 late Thursday.