A foreign currency dealer looks at a monitor in a dealing room.

Asia markets rose across the board on Friday, ahead of the crucial U.S. nonfarm payrolls data due later in the global day.

The session in Asia followed another positive close in U.S. equities overnight.

Australia's ASX 200 advanced 58.93 points, or 1.04 percent, to 5,710.7, with all but the utilities sector closing in positive territory.

The heavily weighted financial subindex rose 1.14 percent as the country's so-called Big Four banks advanced. Shares of ANZ rose 1.34 percent, Commonwealth Bank was up 1.3 percent, Westpac was higher by 1.32 percent and National Australia Bank climbed 1.13 percent.

In Japan, the closed up 62.15 points, or 0.3 percent, at 20,690.71, while the Topix index advanced 4.67 points, or 0.28 percent, to 1,687.16.

Hong Kong's was up 0.22 percent in afternoon trade, after the market returned to trade following a public holiday on Thursday. Meanwhile, India's Nifty 50 and Sensex rose 0.72 percent and 0.54 percent, respectively.

Markets in China and South Korea remained shut for public holidays.

"The global economy is looking stronger and stronger and this is driving profits all at a time when inflation and central banks remain relatively benign," Shane Oliver, head of investment strategy and chief economist at AMP Capital, wrote in a note, explaining why global share markets overlooked the uncertainties and negative headlines this week.

"U.S., Eurozone and Japanese shares saw good gains over the last week but Australian shares remained relatively weak reflecting a relatively less positive growth and profit outlook," Oliver added.