SINGAPORE: Asian stocks surged to their highest in 15 months on Friday led by tech and Hong Kong stocks, while the yen put more distance from recent 34-year lows to cap a tumultuous week that saw suspected intervention from Japanese authorities.

With markets in Japan and mainland China closed on Friday, regional trading activity is likely to be subdued as traders look ahead to the U.S. nonfarm payrolls data later in the day.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan surged to 550.49, its highest since February 2023 and was last up 1% at 547.72.