-- Japanese shares closed higher on Friday, with sentiment supported after Tokyo signaled readiness to step into currency markets to curb volatility driven by speculative moves in crude-linked trades.
The Nikkei 225 rose 0.38%, or 228.20 points, to close at 59,513.12.
Atsushi Mimura, Japan's vice finance minister for international affairs, said authorities stand ready to respond to market distortions linked to speculative trading in crude oil futures.
Japan moved into the currency market on Thursday to support the yen, according to people familiar with the matter, with U.S. officials alerted in advance in line with Group of Seven practices. The yen traded around 157.19 per dollar in Tokyo on Friday morning, after strengthening to 155.57 the previous day from an intraday low near 160.72.
In other economic news, Tokyo core inflation slowed to 1.5% in April, marking a fifth straight deceleration and staying below the Bank of Japan's 2% target, while a key underlying gauge eased to 1.9%.
Japan's consumer confidence index fell 1.1 points to 32.2 in April, with weaker sentiment on spending and livelihoods, even as 93.6% of households expected prices to rise over the next year.
On the corporate front, Marubeni (TYO:8002) fell 4% after reporting an 8.1% rise in annual profit to 543.85 billion yen and forecasting 580 billion yen for the current year.
Makino Milling Machine (TYO:6135) rose 5% after MM Holdings dropped its takeover bid following a government recommendation citing national security concerns.
Air Water (TYO:4088) slid 14% after the Tokyo Stock Exchange designated its shares as a security on alert and imposed a listing rule violation penalty.