Asian shares probe 18-month highs, cheered by Trump's tax cut talk

Asian shares were close to 18-month highs on Friday, tracking a rally on Wall Street after U.S. President Donald Trump promised to unveil a major tax announcement to lower the burden on businesses. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was up 0.1 percent, testing its loftiest level since July 2015 touched a day earlier, and was on track to gain 1.1 for the week. Japan's Nikkei stock index surged 1.8 percent as it got a tailwind from a weaker yen, poised to added 1.8 percent