STOCK NEWS ASIA-Shares to climb on U.S. data, G20 efforts

TOKYO, April 3 (Reuters) - Asian shares are likely to gain on Friday after more U.S. data showed the world's largest economy was stabilising, with financial shares expected to rise on changes to a U.S. bank-accounting rule.

U.S. factory orders rose in February for the first time in seven months, boosting industrial, technology, consumer discretionary and energy stocks. [ID:nN0283980]

Added to bullish sentiment, leaders of the G20 clinched a $1.1 trillion deal on Thursday to combat the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression and said financial rules would be tightened to stop it happening again. [ID:nL1230573]

But a rise in Asian shares might be limited as some market players are likely to lock in profits on this week's rally before the weekend.

Investors are also careful about chasing prices higher before the U.S. government's monthly employment report due later in the day in the wake of data showing the number of U.S. workers filing new jobless claims at a 26-year low. [ID:nN022440]

India's stock markets are closed for a local holiday.

Japanese shares are likely to extend Thursday's gains, with Nikkei futures last trading in Chicago 2NKc1 at 9,030 points, 340 points above Osaka's JNIc1 official close of 8,690.

The U.S. dollar and yen held onto the previous day's losses as fresh efforts by world leaders to fight the economic crisis spurred optimism and gains in stocks on Wall Street eroded safe-haven flows into the two currencies.

HEADLINES: > G20 puts IMF at centre of crisis response