Exports increased more than expected in December thanks to demand for chip-making machines and electronic parts.

About 85.7% of Japanese households expect prices to rise a year from now, a quarterly central bank survey in December showed on Friday, roughly unchanged from 85.6% in the previous poll in September.

The dollar traded in narrow ranges against major peers on Thursday, as the currency continued to struggle for direction in the absence of concrete announcements on tariffs from U.S. President Donald Trump.

The Bank of Japan concludes its first policy meeting of the year on Friday with the outcome to be announced days after the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump. Here is a guide on what to expect and why the BOJ's rate review matters: WHEN DOES THE BOJ MEETING TAKE PLACE?

Japanese investors raised their holdings in foreign stocks, driven by a benign U.S. core inflation report that fuelled expectations of Federal Reserve cuts and boosted global equities, while a strong yen also lifted domestic buying power.

Most Asian markets extended a global rally Wednesday as investors gave a cautious welcome to Donald Trump's first full day in office amid hopes he will take a more cautious approach on trade than initially feared.

US and European stock markets pushed higher Wednesday as investors tracked earnings and President Donald Trump's policy plans that are starting to impact the global economy. And while the inflationary impact of Trump's tariff plans gave investors cold sweats in December,

Japan is closely watching currency market positions, including those built on speculative bets, because volatility in exchange rates is undesirable, its top currency diplomat Atsushi Mimura said on Tuesday.

TOKYO--Japan's top currency official pledged to stay on guard against potential reaction in the foreign exchange market to President Trump's policies, which have already caused some swings in the yen on Tuesday.

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's top currency diplomat Atsushi Mimura said on Tuesday a weak yen would push up inflation by boosting import costs, stressing the need to underpin consumption by turning real wages to positive territory.

World shares are higher ahead of the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, while bitcoin surged to a record high.

U.S. stock indexes are rallying toward the close of their best week in two months. The S&P 500 rose 1.1% Friday.