TOKYO (Reuters) - Asian shares edged closer to 14-month highs on Friday while the dollar was on the defensive as investors grew more convinced that the Federal Reserve is settling into a phase of very gradual interest rate hikes.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits unexpectedly fell last week to a two-month low, pointing to labor market strength that could pave the way for the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates by December.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic U.S. presidential nominee Hillary Clinton on Thursday proposed raising taxes on inherited property to 65 percent for the largest estates as she bolstered plans for tax hikes on the wealthiest Americans.

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese Finance Minister Taro Aso said on Friday that the government must tackle structural reform and carry out its plans to spur the economy, following the Bank of Japan's decision to reboot its monetary policy framework.

TOKYO (Reuters) - The dollar gained in Asian trading on Friday but was on track to end a tumultuous week with losses after the Federal Reserve trimmed its long-term interest rate expectations and the Bank of Japan rebooted its monetary policy framework.

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Oil prices eased on Friday, pulled down by a technical sell-off following two sessions of strong rises and on caution ahead of a gathering of OPEC ministers next week in Algeria to discuss possible production cooperation to rein in global oversupply.

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - A record number of local tax and bond measures will fill the California ballot this November, including over $32 billion of proposed funding for education, infrastructure and homeless services.

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese manufacturing activity expanded for the first time in seven months in September, a preliminary survey showed on Friday, in a tentative sign that economic growth could pick up pace.

PARIS (Reuters) - French business lobbies called on Thursday for the extension of talks between the European Union and the United States on a free trade deal, even as the French government called for an end to the negotiations.