Asia rides Wall St. higher, buoyant crude nears six-week highs

By Shinichi Saoshiro
TOKYO (Reuters) – Asian stocks edged up on Friday as Wall Street benefited from buoyant crude oil prices and expectations U.S. borrowing costs will remain at stimulatory levels at least until year-end.
Japan’s Nikkei <.N225> added 0.5 percent and South Korea’s Kospi <.KS11> tacked on 0.2 percent. Australian shares <.AXJO> added 0.1 percent.
MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan <.MIAPJ0000PUS> stood steady