S&P ASX 200 up 0.81%, KOSPI Composite up 1.17% (Il Sole 24 Ore Radiocor) - Seoul, 29 Apr - Asian shares closed higher, extending Friday's gains, with MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan up 0.80%.

Trading volumes were low as they markets were closed in Tokyo for a public holiday.

In Asian stock market dealings technology shares again rallied as they tracked their US peers higher following stronger-than-expected earnings from US giants Microsoft and Alphabet last week.

Investors awaited the Federal Reserve's two-day monetary policy meeting starting tomorrow following another hotter-than-expected US inflation reading on Friday.

The US central bank expected to keep rates on hold.

The Japanese yen strengthened sharply after hitting the 160-level against the dollar for the first time since 1990.

In China, property stocks led the gains after the Beijing announced measures to further loosen home purchase restrictions across major cities.

Investors awaited key Chinese purchasing managers index data for April due on Wednesday for cues on an economic recovery in the country.

Japan's industrial production and retail sales figures from March are also on tap.

In Sydney the S&P ASX 200 closed up 0.81% at 7,637 points, while in Seoul the KOSPI closed up 1.04% at 2,656 points.

The Shanghai Composite index was up 0.75% at 3,111 points and the Hong Kong Hang Seng index was up 0.88% at 17,806 points.

In Mumbai the Sensex index was up 0.88% at 74,380 points.

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(RADIOCOR) 29-04-24 09:12:10 (0134) 5 NNNN