Australian shares ended higher for a fourth straight session on Friday and saw their best week in two months, as US President Donald Trump's remarks on tax encouraged stock buying. The S&P/ASX 200 index rose 1 percent, or 55.985 points, to 5,720.6 at the close of trade. The index gained 1.76 percent on the week, its biggest gain in nine weeks.
Asia Pacific stocks were more broadly supported by stronger than expected Chinese trade data, which showed January exports rose 7.9 percent from a year earlier, while imports jumped 16.7 percent.
Trump said he would make a major tax announcement in a few weeks to lower burden on businesses but provided few details about the plan.
"Remarks on tax were perfectly timed for the Australian stock market.
The "Big Four" banks rose between 0.6 percent and 1.3 percent.
The benchmark mining index gained 1 percent, with BHP Billiton adding 1.8 percent, even though workers at the Escondida copper mine in Chile walked off the job on Thursday in a strike that threatens to disrupt the international supply.
Rio Tinto gained 1.1 percent, while Fortescue Metals Group added 1.9 percent.
New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index fell 0.2 percent, or 17.2 points, to finish the session at 7,104.43.
The index gained 0.14 percent on the week.
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