'Santa Claus rally': Asian markets edge higher amid thinned holiday trade; silver hits record high

Asian markets edged slightly higher on Friday amid holiday-thinned trade, though some exchanges remained closed for the Boxing Day holiday. Many markets extended their year-end rallies as analysts projected a "Santa Claus rally" -- the phenomenon where prices tend to rise during the last five days of December and the first two days of the new year.

'Santa Claus rally': Asian markets edge higher amid thinned holiday trade; silver hits record high
Asian markets edged slightly higher on Friday amid holiday-thinned trade, though some exchanges remained closed for the Boxing Day holiday. Many markets extended their year-end rallies as analysts projected a "Santa Claus rally" -- the phenomenon where prices tend to rise during the last five days of December and the first two days of the new year.