The leading Asian stock exchanges started the week's last trading day on a plus, as investors were pleased with Donald Trump's plans for tax cuts.
In Tokyo, the important Nikkei 225 index had increased by 0.3 percent at lunchtime, while the broader Topix index rose by 0.2 percent after Japan's central bank announced that the interest rate would be raised.
Even more cheerful was the mood in Hong Kong, where the Hang Seng index grew by 1.8 percent.
Optimistic tones were also heard from the composite indexes in Shanghai and Shenzhen, which rose by 0.7 and 1 percent, respectively.
