Sensex Today | Share Market Live Updates: According to provisional data from the NSE, Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) sold shares worth ₹1,410.05 crore, while Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) bought stocks worth ₹1,823.68 crore on February 22. Companies set to report December 2023 quarter results on Friday, February 23, include Rain Industries, Sanofi India, Valecha Engineering, Enkei Wheels (India), and Foseco India. (Photo: Reuters)

Asian stocks continued their upward trend on Friday, driven by a global rally in equities that has seen record highs in share markets across the US, Europe, and Japan. Mainland China and Hong Kong shares experienced fluctuations at the opening, while equities in Australia and South Korea advanced. Japanese markets remained closed on Friday for a public holiday.

The positive sentiment persisted on Wall Street, with Nvidia Corp. surging 16% amid artificial intelligence enthusiasm, and fresh data indicating continued strength in the world's largest economy. While most Asian markets are expected to follow Wall Street's lead higher at the end of the week, concerns linger in China about an entrenched economic slowdown. The struggling housing market remains a point of worry, with data from Thursday showing a rise in foreclosed properties for sale in January.

Equities were further supported by robust manufacturing, housing, and labor-market data, with traders taking a more optimistic view of Federal Reserve communications. Treasury 10-year yields remained largely unchanged at 4.32% on Thursday. Cash Treasury trading will be closed in Asia on Friday due to the Japanese holiday.

In commodities, oil prices stabilized in Asia as investors balanced signs of a tightening market against ongoing demand concerns. Meanwhile, gold prices fluctuated following US economic data and Federal Reserve minutes indicating a willingness to keep rates higher for longer if necessary.