The US gave strong support to Argentina on Friday in the Latin American country's legal battle with hedge funds over the repayment of $1.3 billion to holders of defaulted bonds.

The yen edged higher against the dollar Friday after days of declines on expectations Japan would implement more monetary easing under its new prime minister.

European stock markets dropped and the euro fell versus the dollar on Friday, the final trading day of the year for the Frankfurt index, which has soared in 2012 despite economic strains in the eurozone and United States.

Tokyo shares on Friday closed at their highest point since last year's quake-tsunami, ending 2012 up almost 23 percent on-year as Japan's new government pledges to turn around the long-suffering economy.

South Korea's current account surplus rose to a record high in November, placing upward pressure on the won which has already risen more than 10 percent against the dollar since May.

Tokyo stocks opened 0.81 percent higher on Friday, extending their recent gains on a weaker yen and expectations that the Bank of Japan would take more easing steps.

Europe's main stock markets rose for the most part Thursday following a festive break and a rally in Tokyo, with Paris reaching a 2012 high.

Tokyo's benchmark Nikkei 225 index on Thursday closed at its highest level since the quake-tsunami disaster in March last year, a day after Japan's new conservative government took power.

Tokyo stocks opened 0.63 percent higher on Thursday, helped by a steadily weakening yen.

The dollar rose against the yen Wednesday as Shinzo Abe was sworn in as prime minister amid expectations the Bank of Japan would initiate more monetary easing steps under his leadership.

The dollar rose past 85.00 yen in early Asian trade on Wednesday on expectations that the Bank of Japan (BoJ) would take more monetary easing steps under pressure from the incoming government.

Tokyo stocks opened 0.50 percent higher on Wednesday with the lower yen heartening investors.

Asian markets rose in quiet pre-Christmas trade on Monday after big losses in the previous session as US lawmakers remain deadlocked in talks to avert the fiscal cliff.

London shares trod water on Thursday, with investors nervous that US leaders have still not agreed a deal to avert the fiscal cliff, dealers said.

Shares in London climbed again on Wednesday on further hopes of a breakthrough deal to avoid the so-called US "fiscal cliff" and on news of rebounding German business confidence, dealers said.

Tokyo stocks opened 1.01 percent higher on Wednesday, boosted by the weaker yen and a rally on Wall Street where optimism was growing that a deal to avert the fiscal cliff was in sight.

Shares in London ended higher on Tuesday as investors welcomed signs of progress in talks on a new deficit-cutting budget to avoid the so-called "fiscal cliff" in the United States, dealers said.

Khartoum's decaying fleet of public buses is leaving commuters stranded as surging inflation and a sinking Sudanese currency drive maintenance costs out of control, bus operators say.

Tokyo stocks rose 0.20 percent at the open on Tuesday, tracing Wall Street gains on signs of progress in negotiations to prevent the US economy from going over the "fiscal cliff".

Shares in London ended slightly lower on Monday as investor concern about a looming US fiscal deadline overshadowed the election of a new Japanese leader, dealers said.