Asia-Pacific equities struggled for direction Friday, following a lack of movement in most U.S. stocks overnight, as investors seek new drivers after an October to remember. Australian stocks stood out, hitting fresh 2017 highs on gains in commodity prices. The S&P/ASX 200 XJO, +0.43% was recently up 0.5% at 5,964 - hitting a 2017 high for the second day in a row - and moving closer to 2015's peak of 5,996.90. Topping that would put the index at its best level in 10 years.

European stocks ended lower on Thursday, with shares of many exporters under pressure as the euro increased in value. British blue chips, however, climbed as the Bank of England struck a dovish note even as it raised borrowing costs for the first time in a decade. The market continued to have plenty of corporate earnings reports to consider, with Swiss lender Credit Suisse Group AG saying its profit climbed.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at a record on Thursday, but the other main benchmarks saw muted moves, as the much-anticipated tax plan by House Republicans was unveiled and as President Donald Trump nominated Fed. Gov. Jerome Powell to run the Federal Reserve, as had been widely expected.