Asian stocks mixed after ECB, poised for weekly gain

Asian stock markets were trading mixed this Friday morning after the European Central Bank (ECB) trimmed the size of its asset purchase programme and also extended till end 2017.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan traded flat, but was poised for a weekly gain of 2.2%.

Japan's Nikkei stock index was up 0.6% and was set to end the week higher by 2.4%. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.40%. Meanwhile, losing side included Hong Kong’s Hang Seng, IDX Composite and New Zealand stocks.

US stock indexes climbed again on Thursday and set fresh record highs as Wall Street.

The risk-on sentiment got a boost after the ECB said it would reduce its monthly asset purchases to EUR 60 billion from April, from the current level of EUR 80 billion, but extended the purchases to December from March.

Moreover, the ECB’s move overshadowed a rise in the December Fed rate hike bets to 98%.