Asian shares edged up on Friday after China’s trade data for January handily beat forecasts to underscore a recovery trend, but prices were capped by investors seeking to book profits before next week’s Chinese new year holidays.

The MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan edged up 0.2 per cent, wiping earlier losses when bearish sentiment was carried over from overnight after European Central Bank President Mario Draghi noted risks still facing the euro zone economy. The pan-Asian index rose to a 18-month high on Monday.