Most Asia markets gained on Friday, retracing earlier losses, despite a fresh stream of hawkish commentary from U.S. Federal Reserve officials.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 gained 89.69 points, or 0.5%, to 16,736.35.
The U.S. dollar-yen pair was at 110.20, after spending much of the session hovering around 110, compared with levels as high as 110.34 Thursday.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index regained 157.87 points, or 0.8%, to 19,852.20.
Experts are saying the somewhat muted reactions of the market to clues the U.S. Federal Reserve may raise rates in June may be because some market players are taking the Fed's signals with grains of salt.
Among energy plays, Australia-listed Woodside added 0.3% and Santos rose 2.6%. In Japan, Inpex added 0.5%
Airline shares around the region were mixed in the wake of disappearance of EgyptAir flight MS804 in the Mediterranean Sea, as well as an increase in oil prices, which are denominated in U.S. dollars.
Air New Zealand shed 2.2% and Virgin Australia fell 1.8% both are exposed to weaker home currencies. Japan Airlines also fell 1.2%. But Singapore Airlines, which has faced tough competition from the Gulf carriers, added 0.5%, and Cathay Pacific, which may get insulation from rising oil prices as its home currency, the Hong Kong dollar, is pegged to the greenback, rose 2.4%
Australia-listed Alacer Gold tacked on 4.3% and Newcrest rose 1.2%, erasing earlier losses. China gold plays were mixed, with Jiangxi Copper, which also mines the yellow metal, seeing its Hong Kong-listed shares fall 0.4%, while its mainland-listed ones ended up 0.4%. The Hong Kong-listed shares of gold miner Zijin Mining fell 0.8%
Shares of Hong Kong's Li & Fung added 0.5%, after shares of its major customer Wal-Mart surged more than 9% overnight on better-than-expected quarterly results.
In other markets
The CSI 300 Index restored 15.72 points, or 0.5%, to 3,078.22
In Korea, the Kospi Index eked up 0.89 points, or 0.1%, to 1,947.67
In Singapore, the Straits Times Index recovered 23.71 points, or 0.9%, to 2,763.82
In Taiwan, the Taiex Index added 35.28 points, or 0.4%, to 8,131.26
New Zealand’s NZX 50 moved positively 6.24 points, or 0.1%, to 6,909.86
The ASX 200 moved higher 27.96 points, or 0.5%, to 5,351.31
