US markets had finished higher on expectations that job figures for February, due out later on Friday, will show a strong pace of growth.
Asia's biggest market, Japan's Nikkei 225 closed 0.3% higher at 17,014.78.
Shares in the embattled electronics firm Sharp rose 9.4% on new reports it was close to a deal with Taiwan's Foxconn.
The jump came after the Nikkei business daily reported that Sharp and Foxconn parent company Hon Hai Precision Industry were continuing talks, with both sides seeking to conclude a takeover deal by Monday.
Earlier talks had been delayed when Foxconn said it had received new information from Sharp which needed to be clarified.
In Australia, the ASX 200 index finished the day up 0.2% at 5,090.02.
Shares of commodity giant BHP Billiton rose 2.4%, with investors unfazed by a downgrade by credit ratings agency Moody's.
Moody's cut its ratings of the Anglo-Australian firm to "A3" from "A1", citing the deterioration in the company's earnings and cash flow as reasons.
The ratings agency also said it expected low commodity prices and softer demand to continue to affect BHP.
In China, the mainland benchmark Shanghai Composite index closed up 0.5% at 2,874.15. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index ended up 1.2% at 20,176.70.
Samsonite shares rose 1.3% as the company confirmed that it was taking over US luxury rival Tumi.
In South Korea, the Kospi index finished down 0.1% at 1,955.63.

The bridge, over the River Wharfe at Tadcaster, North Yorkshire, collapsed in December 2015, affecting 79 homes and businesses.
The report, for North Yorkshire County Council, said improved defences should be a "priority".
The Environment Agency said it was preparing a funding bid for improved defences.
Read more about this and other stories from across Yorkshire
The report said heavy rain over the Christmas period fell on ground already saturated following heavy rain throughout November and December.
The level of the River Wharfe rose rapidly and overtopped the town's existing defences.
It states: "An improved system of flood defences in Tadcaster is a priority for the town.
"The current level of protection [for a one-in-25 year flood event] is low and whilst the rainfall preceding the flood was unusual, the risk of a repeat event remains."
Don Mackenzie, executive member on North Yorkshire County Council, said: "Clearly we want to see the basic defences built up higher so that we have more than the current 25 year protection. Ideally we would like to see a 100 year protection."
Nicola Eades, from Tadcaster Flood Action Group, welcomed the report.
"We are working closely with the organisations [on plans for defences] but it will be about what will be acceptable to the public."
She also said it would be dependent on what funding would be available nationally and regionally.
The report praises the Tadcaster Flood Action Group (TFAG) for its work in improving flood awareness and resilience in the town since 2015.
It concludes: "It is undoubtedly true that Tadcaster is better prepared for flooding through the actions and activities of TFAG."

It was originally thought 60 people died when a government-allied militia tried to take over the Brak al-Shati base on Thursday.
The UN-backed government's defence minister and the commander of the militia have both been suspended pending an investigation.
The prime minister's office has denied ordering the attack.
A militia spokesman said they had "liberated the base and destroyed all the forces inside".
The town's mayor said some aircraft had been set ablaze.
Most of the dead were soldiers of the self-proclaimed Libyan National Army (LNA), an alliance in the east of the country which does not recognise the government in the capital, Tripoli. That force has been in control of the airbase since December.
Its spokesman gave the new death toll of 140.
"The soldiers were returning from a military parade. They weren't armed. Most of them were executed," he said.
The UN's envoy to Libya, Martin Kobler, said he was "outraged" by reports of summary executions.
The attack breached an informal truce between the rival forces that was reached earlier this month when the LNA's commander, General Khalifa Haftar, met the UN-backed Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj.
The Tripoli government has set up an investigative committee to present its findings to the prime minister within 15 days.
Shares across Asia traded mixed on Friday, failing to pick up the positive lead from Wall Street.
[NEXT_CONCEPT]
Flooding which caused a road bridge to collapse, cutting a town in two, could happen again, a report has said.
[NEXT_CONCEPT]
Reports suggest as many as 140 people, including civilians, may have died in an attack on an airbase in Libya.