Global Markets

Asian shares managed to reverse some of last week's losses after Washington said it would lift tariffs in North America.

At end-April, Indian and Malaysian stocks were the most expensive with price-to-earnings ratios of 17.2 and 15.6 respectively

Shares of the iPhone maker jumped 5.3 per cent after the company said sales in China were steadying.

About 160 S&P 500 companies, including Google-parent Alphabet Inc and Apple Inc, are due to report their quarterly reports

The S&P index recorded 46 new 52-week highs and one new low, while the Nasdaq recorded 77 new highs and 23 new lows

Japan's Nikkei added 0.3 per cent, to be 2.8 per cent firmer for the week. E-Mini futures for the S&P 500 edged up 0.1 per cent.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was up less than 0.1 per cent early in the Asian trading day.

Asia shares extended their rally on Tuesday as factory activity surveys from China and the United States boosted investor confidence.

In March, Indian equities led gains in the region with a 7.7 per cent rise, followed by New Zealand and China.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan added 1 per cent and the Shanghai Composite Index rallied 1.7 per cent.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan edged up 0.1 per cent while Japan's Nikkei rose 1.0 per cent.

Japan's Nikkei fell 1.7 per cent. US stocks could not escape the malaise with E-Mini futures for the S&P 500 off 0.5 per cent.

Asian shares slipped on Wednesday, giving up their small gains made the previous day, as investors tried to come to terms with a sharp shift in US bond markets.

Wall Street shares were little changed on Monday with the S&P 500 ending with a small loss of 0.08 per cent.

US stocks futures fell, with E-minis for the S&P 500 skidding 0.5 per cent. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan dropped 1.4 per cent to a one-week trough in a broad sell-off in equities in the region.