Japan's Nikkei rises 0.5% as Fed rate-hike expectations recede

Japanese stocks advanced in early trading as expectations for Federal Reserve rate increases receded, with technology and financial shares leading the gains. SoftBank Group 9984 rose 6.5%, Fujitsu gained 3.1% and Nomura Holdings climbed 1.9%. The Nikkei Stock Average was up 0.5% at 64530.98. The dollar traded at 155.32 yen, sharply below 157.23 yen at Thursday's Tokyo market close. Investors were monitoring bond yields and crude oil prices after Fed Gov. Christopher Waller said he would support keeping rates steady if inflation data continued their recent progress.