Asian shares jump on Ukraine ceasefire

Tokyo - Asian shares soared on Friday on news of a ceasefire accord in Ukraine, while Sweden's surprise move to cut its main rate into negative territory and hopes of a resolution between debt-strapped Greece and its creditors burnished risk appetite.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose 1.6%. Japan's Nikkei slipped 0.4% but the broader Topix avoided losses.

The gains came after a rally in Europe and Wall Street, with the pan-European stock index hitting a seven-year high and the S&P 500 coming within striking distance of a record high.