TOKYO: Asian stocks edged up on Friday, drawing support from unexpectedly strong growth in China's economy at the end of last year, although gains were limited by caution ahead of Donald Trump's inauguration as U.S. president next week.
Japanese equities struggled though, with the Nikkei on course for a third straight losing week, after the yen popped to a one-month high amid rising bets for an imminent Bank of Japan rate hike.
The dollar clawed back some of Thursday's steep declines against major peers, the result of resurgent wagers on a Federal Reserve rate cut by June. Treasury yields also halted their decline, but remained close to the previous session's lows.
China's economy grew 5% last year, matching the government's target, but in a lopsided fashion, with many people complaining of worsening living standards as Beijing struggles to transfer its industrial and export gains to consumers.
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