Asian Shares Climb On Strong Japan Data, RBNZ's Easy Stance

Group 1: Market Movements - Asian stocks rose in thin holiday trade, influenced by progress in Iran-U.S. nuclear talks and a smaller-than-expected trade deficit in Japan [1] - Japanese markets advanced as exports surged in January and confidence improved in February, providing cautious relief for policymakers [3] - Australian markets closed higher for a third consecutive session, driven by robust first-quarter results from the National Bank of Australia [5] Group 2: Economic Data and Policy - The Reserve Bank of New Zealand maintained its "accommodative for some time" stance after holding interest rates at the lowest level in 3-1/2 years [1] - U.S. commerce secretary announced Japan's $36 billion investment in three projects, including a natural gas plant and a crude oil export facility [4] - New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX-50 index jumped 1.65% after the Reserve Bank indicated gradual normalization of rates [6] Group 3: Sector Performance - Technology stocks rallied, while gold stocks were weighed down by falling bullion prices due to easing geopolitical tensions [6] - Financials gained ground in U.S. markets, offsetting declines in software stocks amid concerns over AI investment returns [7]