Japan's core consumer prices index climbed 2.8% year on year, in line with Reuters estimates, versus a 2.7% rise in the previous month. The reading will be the last gauge of the economy before the BOJ concludes its two-day monetary policy meeting,

Asian markets built Friday on the latest global rally after a jumbo US interest rate cut, while the yen edged up as focus turns to the Bank of Japan policy decision later in the day.

Asian stocks have surged, with Japan’s Nikkei 225 index leading gains after Wall Street romped to records following the Federal Reserve’s big cut to interest rates.