U.S. stocks advanced for the sixth day in a row, driven by solid quarterly earnings, although a surprise jump in weekly job claims worked to curb the rise.
Bellwether stock United Parcel Service was the latest stock to beat market expectations with its profit and raised its profit outlook, sending its shares up more than 5 percent.
However, shares in Google Inc slid as the results beat analysts' expectations, but were deemed to be not strong enough.
Asian stocks listed on Wall Street slipped 0.39 percent, but MSCI's measure of Asia Pacific stocks excluding Japan were 0.21 percent stronger.
British and European shares edged higher to 22-month and near
19
month highs respectively, with banks performingly stronger, as positive U.S. data fed optimism on the other side of the Atlantic.
Japanese markets are seen slightly higher, with Nikkei futures traded in Chicago 25 points above the last closing level in Osaka.
The yen strengthened against U.S. dollar and the euro , as concerns over how a massive aid package for debt-stricken Greece would be implemented. See
Australian shares are expected to extend their gains, after breaching the 5,000 level for the first time in 19 months on Thursday. Share price index futures slid 4 points to 5,013, a 11.1 point premium to the close of the underlying S&P/ASX 200 index on Thursday.
HEADLINES: > Google profit rise fails to impress; shares slip > US factories shine, job market weakness lingers > Transport stocks lift Wall St, though data weighs > US Senate Dems pave way for financial reform vote > US says 7 UBS clients hid $100 mln from taxes > UAL, Continental in merger talks-source > Icahn increases offer for Lions Gate; shares jump > Greece asks for talks, may be step towards aid > Fewer Americans falling behind on credit cards > China, Brazil sign deals at shortened BRIC summit > SGX Q3 net profit up 35 pct, bullish on outlook
KEY INDEXES pct change
Bank of New York Asia ADR index -0.39
Dow Jones Industrial Average +0.19
Nasdaq Composite Index +0.43
MSCI Asia Pacific ex-Japan +0.21
Nikkei futures in Chicago 11,295
Nikkei futures in Osaka 11,270
TOP ASIA EVENTS:
For more Asian company earnings, see
JAPAN - Government economic report for April
HONG KONG - China High Speed Transmission Equipment Group Co
Ltd final results
- China National Building Material Co Ltd
final results
- Ping An Insurance (Group) Co of China Ltd
final results
(Reporting by Adrian Bathgate)
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