Tokyo — Asian shares firmed on Friday, supported by solid Chinese trade data, while the dollar skidded after European Central Bank (ECB) chief Mario Draghi suggested the central bank may begin tapering its huge stimulus programme this northern autumn. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan added 0.5%, and was set for a 0.2% gain for the week. China’s August exports rose 5.5% from a year earlier, slightly missing analysts’ forecast of a 6% increase, while imports grew a robust 13.3%, handily beating expectations of 10% growth and reinforcing views that the world’s second-largest economy is still expanding at a healthy pace despite tighter policy. Japan’s Nikkei stock index was pressured by a stronger yen and slipped 0.4%. The index is poised for a 1.8% loss for the week. Australian shares slipped 0.3%, hit by weakness in energy and financial sectors, with Commonwealth Bank of Australia coming under renewed pressure as it struggled to shake off a money-laundering s...
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