<|begin_of_text|><|begin_of_text|><|begin_of_text|>Asia-Pacific equities struggled for direction Friday, following a lack of movement in most U.S. stocks overnight, as investors seek new drivers after an October to remember.
Australian stocks stood out, hitting fresh 2017 highs on gains in commodity<wm> markets. China's Shanghai Composite Index, the primary measure of the top Chinese markets, closed 0.6 percent higher after investors awaited a key decision on China’s interest rates, and for the first time China has set interest rate-setting authority on interest in years.
Stock markets in all major markets globally were mixed, with European and Japanese shares down, while U.S. stocks, the top performer for the day in China, retreated. All other regions saw modest gains or losses.
The strong gains in</wm> Chinese and Australian stocks in China were driven largely by renewed concerns about Chinese growth, the US Federal Reserve