Asian Markets Rise on Wall Street Gains

Asian markets experienced gains on Friday, buoyed by a strong performance on Wall Street, with Japan's Nikkei 225 rising 1% and South Korea's Kospi gaining 1.2%, following positive corporate earnings, particularly from Nvidia. Bitcoin surged past $99,000, fueled by President-elect Donald Trump's pro-crypto policies and the impending resignation of SEC Chair Gary Gensler, although it later settled around $98,925. Meanwhile, geopolitical tensions escalated as President Putin announced missile strikes against Ukraine, contributing to rising oil prices. Despite a mixed performance in the U.S. futures market, the S&P 500 and Dow Jones saw increases of 0.5% and 1.1% respectively, with optimism surrounding interest rate adjustments by the Federal Reserve. Investors are closely watching upcoming economic indicators, including inflation data, ahead of the Bank of Japan's December meeting, where policy adjustments may be discussed. Overall, while Asian equities are set for potential back-to-back monthly losses, favorable valuations compared to the U.S. market are aiding recovery in certain sectors.