Asia markets open higher as investors await key economic data in the region

This is CNBC’s live blog covering Asia-Pacific markets.

Asia-Pacific markets rose as investors await a slate of Chinese economic data later in the day.

Happy Friday from Singapore. Asia markets are set for a mixed open.

Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 was set to start the day marginally lower with futures tied to the benchmark at 8,838, compared with the index’s last close of 8.873.8.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 was set to open higher, with the futures contract in Chicago at 42,795, while its counterpart in Osaka last traded at 42,770, against the index’s last close of 42,649.26.