Japanese shares closed nearly 1% higher on Friday after data showed inflation remained contained in March, reinforcing expectations that the Bank of Japan will refrain from raising interest rates next week.
The Nikkei 225 rose nearly 1%, or 575.95 points, to close at 59,716.18.
Core consumer prices, excluding fresh food, rose 1.8% year on year in March, matching forecasts and accelerating from 1.6% in February. Energy subsidies continued to limit price pressures despite higher fuel costs linked to Middle East tensions.
The data showed energy prices fell 5.7%, a smaller drop than the previous month, while nonperishable food inflation eased. A separate core-core gauge, which strips out energy, rose 2.4%.
On the corporate front, Shares of Daiichi Sankyo (TYO:4568) fell about 10% after the company delayed its earnings release and five-year plan while reviewing oncology supply plans, even as it raised its full-year profit outlook on foreign exchange gains.
Shares of Renesas Electronics (TYO:6723) dropped about 5% despite reporting a 162% jump in first-quarter profit and strong revenue growth, with the company flagging near-term volatility and issuing only a six-month outlook.
Shares of SoftBank Group (TYO:9984) rose 2% after a report said its mobile unit plans to convert part of an Osaka plant into a large-scale battery production site to support AI data centers.