Oil extends gains, euro recovers on ECB assurances

The euro edged lower on Friday after rallying on an ECB assurance that Greek banks will retain access to crucial funds, while oil prices extended gains after a volatile week.
Investors seemed to shrug off a clash between Greece's new finance minister and his German counterpart over renegotiating Athens's debt, and a strong rally on Wall Street provided support to most Asian markets.
While the Greek issue is still in focus, attention Friday will be on the release of US January jobs data, which could give fresh clues about Federal Reserve monetary policy.
Tokyo stocks added 0.82 percent, or 143.88 points, to close at 17,648.50 and Seoul gained 0.14 percent, or 2.68 points, to 1,955.52.
Sydney rose for a record 12th straight session, adding 0.16 percent, or 9.20 points, to close at 5,820.17, despite Australia's central bank lowering its 2015 economic growth forecasts. The index has now risen more than 10 percent since January 20.
However, Shanghai sank 1.93 percent, or 60.62 points, to 3,075.91 and Hong Kong slipped 0.35 percent, or 86.10 points, to 24,679.39.
Oil enjoyed another uptick at the end of a week that has seen prices swing from six-year lows last Friday to highs not seen since the turn of the year.
"Volatility is rampant in oil markets right now," said Jasper Lawler, market analyst at trading group CMC Markets UK.
"Prices are gyrating up and down by five percent every other day as traders jostle for position."
On Friday the US benchmark, West Texas Intermediate for March delivery, rose $1.06 to $51.54 while Brent crude for March gained $1.17 to $57.74 in afternoon trade.
- US jobs, Greece in focus -
Crude last week hit lows not seen since March 2009, pressured by a global supply glut and a strong dollar.
This week's rally has been credited to investors bargain-buying the cheaper commodity, while the dollar has also weakened since a batch of disappointing US data.
On Wall Street Thursday, the Dow climbed 1.20 percent, the S&P 500 rose 1.03 percent and the Nasdaq advanced 1.03 percent.
The euro eased Friday, but losses were limited following Thursday's advances that came in response to soothing noises out of the European Central Bank over Greek banks' access to cash.
The single currency bought $1.1444 and 134.26 yen on Friday afternoon, compared with $1.1475 and 134.89 yen in New York Thursday.
The dollar was at 117.34 yen against 117.55 yen in US trade.
On Wednesday, the euro tumbled after the eurozone's central bank said Greece's lenders would not be able to use government bonds as collateral to raise funds.
But ECB officials said Thursday they could still tap its emergency liquidity assistance programme, dampening fears of an immediate banking crisis while Athens seeks new bailout terms with its creditors.
Talks between Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis and Germany's Wolfgang Schaeuble got off to a frosty start Thursday when the two clashed over plans by Greece's new anti-austerity government to renegotiate paying back the country's huge debts.
On the latest leg of a European charm offensive to build support for the new government's policies, Varoufakis said he and Schaeuble had not found any common ground, while the German side said it was "sceptical" about the Greek proposals.
Gold fetched $1,264.34 an ounce on Friday, against $1,260.30 on Thursday.
In other markets:
-- Singapore rose 0.73 percent, or 24.78 points, to close at 3,431.36.
Singapore Airlines dipped 0.25 percent to Sg$12.13 and DBS Bank declined 0.21 percent to Sg$19.38.
-- Kuala Lumpur's main stock index gained 0.56 percent, or 10.04 points, to close at 1,813.25.
AMMB Holdings added 0.64 percent to 6.33 ringgit, Public Bank rose 1.84 percent to 18.78 while Sime Darby lost 0.10 percent to 9.53 ringgit.
-- Bangkok rose 0.36 percent, or 5.71 points, to close at 1,613.63.
Airports of Thailand rose 1.27 percent to 320.00 baht while energy giant PTT gained 0.80 percent to 377.00 baht.
-- Jakarta ended up 1.19 percent, or 62.62 points, at 5,342.52.
Palm oil firm Astra Agro Lestari gained 7.98 percent to 26,400 rupiah, while construction company Adhi Karya slipped 0.28 percent to 3,520 rupiah.
-- Mumbai declined 0.46 percent, or 133.06 points, to end at 28,717.91 points.
Tata Motors fell 5.05 percent to 559.75 rupees, while Housing Development Finance Corporation rose 2.45 percent to 1279.50 rupees.
-- Taipei fell 0.59 percent, or 55.87 points, to 9,456.18.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. eased 1.72 percent to Tw$143.0 while smartphone maker HTC rose 0.96 percent to Tw$158.5.
-- Manila closed 0.70 percent, or 53.94 points, higher to 7,728.18.
Universal Robina rose 3.43 percent to 211 pesos, SM Investments gained 0.61 percent to 901.50 pesos while Philippine Long Distance Telephone was up 0.06 percent at 3,092 pesos.
-- Wellington was closed for a public holiday.