"We're starting to see the early signs of some real progress being made in the euro area"
- Andrew Salter, a currency strategist at Sydney-based Australia & New Zealand Banking Group Ltd.
Japanese stocks advanced on Friday after German Chancellor Angela Merkel signalled support for a European Central Bank plan to combat the debt crisis.
The Nikkei 225 Stock Average gained 0.77 per cent, or 69.74 points, to 9,162.50. The broader Topix Index gained 0.88 per cent, or 6.69, to 765.81.
"We're starting to see the early signs of some real progress being made in the euro area," said Andrew Salter, a currency strategist at Sydney-based Australia & New Zealand Banking Group Ltd.
"We do see the euro rebounding modestly over the next few months."
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