Asia shares up in early trade Friday supported by rising China stocks(Update)

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was up 0.3 percent. The performance of volatile Chinese stocks was eyed warily - mainland indexes began higher as a futures contract on the CSI300 Index set for delivery by the close of business finally rising above the level of its benchmark. Shanghai shares were up 1.4 percent as of 0221 GMT. Japan's Nikkei rose 0.2 percent on a softer yen, while South Korea's Kospi shed 0.6 percent. Australian shares were little changed. (A Reuters picture shows a man walking past a board displaying the Nikkei average in Tokyo on Friday July 17, 2015.)

Earlier report:

Asia stocks up in early trade Friday on Wall St. rise and Greece relief