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Asia shares rise on brightening U.S. prospects, BOJ awaited
Asian shares ticked higher on Friday as investors cheered upbeat U.S. growth data, while the dollar held near four-week highs against the yen as markets awaited the outcome of the Bank of Japan's monetary policy meeting. The BOJ is widely expected to maintain its massive asset buying program and its upbeat forecast that inflation will hit its 2 percent target next year, suggesting no further stimulus is on the horizon. The policy decision is expected around 0230-0330 GMT. But data released early on Friday showed Japan's annual core consumer inflation slowed for a second straight month in September, adding to evidence ... (full story)