The Indonesia stock market on Thursday snapped the two-day winning streak in which it had jumped almost 200 points or 2.9 percent. The Jakarta Composite Index now sits just above the 7,115-point plateau although it's expected to reverse those losses on Friday.

Adding to the gains in the previous session, the Australian stock market is notably higher on Friday, following the broadly positive cues from Wall Street overnight. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 is moving above the 7,600 level, with gains across most sectors led by technology stocks partially offset by weakness in gold mining stocks.

The Hong Kong stock market has moved higher in eight straight sessions, gathering more than 2,000 points or 11.8 percent along the way. The Hang Seng Index now sits just above the 18,200-point plateau and it's nonetheless tipped to open higher again on Friday.

The Taiwan stock market has moved lower in back-to-back sessions, stumbling almost 275 points or 1.4 percent along the way. The Taiwan Stock Exchange now sits just above the 20,220-point plateau although it may stop the bleeding on Friday.

The Singapore stock market has moved higher in three straight sessions, collecting more than 15 points or 0.5 percent along the way. The Straits Times Index now rests just beneath the 3,300-point plateau and it may extend its gains on Friday.

Euro up, dollar-yen down, gold spikes, Google steady. Bank of Canada considers rate cut, Fed hints at future rate adjustment. Key economic events: Japan Consumer Confidence, Australia Trade Balance, US Labor Costs, Spain Unemployment Change, US Jobless Claims, Austria Unemployment Rate.

Brent crude oil prices have dropped to $83.95 per barrel on Thursday, marking the lowest level in seven weeks. This decline follows recent US statistics indicating a significant increase in crude oil inventories and production.

Fed appears less hawkish than expected - Dollar and Treasury yields pull back - Yen rallies on another round of suspected intervention - Wall Street trades cautiously ahead of NFPs

On 30 April – 1 May, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) of the U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) will meet to decide on key interest rates in the U.S. economy. The Fed is expected to leave rates unchanged.

Powell's dovish stance prompted a sharp decline in the strength of the U.S. dollar, while gold prices rebounded on the prospect of a softer dollar.