Asian Stocks Rise on BOJ Hike and Lower Oil Prices

Asian stocks rose on Friday after Japan's Bank of Japan (BOJ) raised its policy rate to 1.25%, sparking a rebound in the Nikkei index.

The move came as lower oil prices eased inflation concerns and a tech-led Wall Street rally lifted sentiment, with the Nasdaq jumping 1.7% overnight and the S&P 500 rising 1.1%.

Japan's BOJ raised rates by 25 basis points in a 7-2 vote, with two policymakers dissenting, and Governor Kazuo Ueda is due to hold a press conference later on Friday.

The decision was described as relatively dovish by some analysts, who noted that the dissenters tempered the message on further tightening.