Asia-Pacific equities were broadly higher Friday, with fresh early weakness in China and Korea reversing. South Korea's Kospi SEU, +0.29% , which started the day in negative territory, was recently up 0.1% and Samsung 005930, +2.44% rebounded 1.8%. The index had only just set an eight-week closing low Thursday.

Stocks across Europe wobbled into the close on Thursday, settling slightly higher as traders digested deal news and economic growth data. U.K. stocks underperformed the wider market, hurt by a rise in the pound on hopes U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May is making progress in Brexit talks.

The main U.S. stock benchmarks closed moderately higher Thursday, with the S&P 500 snapping a four-session losing streak on the back of gains in the technology, industrials and materials sectors. Traders focused on continued progress on tax legislation and looked ahead to the monthly jobs report due Friday.