All the Asian equity indices are trading higher in the early deals on Tuesday, tracking cues from Wall Street where the major averages ended on a firm note overnight on encouraging earnings results as well as merger and acquisition news. The sentiments improved further as the Bank of Japan kept monetary policy stable before Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen addresses US lawmakers. However, the overall mood is somewhat cautious with investors looking ahead to some key earnings and economic data due this week. On the regional front, the Japanese stock market gained on the back of slightly weaker yen. Meanwhile, investors are looking ahead to Bank of Japan's monetary policy statement. Among other markets in the Asia-Pacific region, Hong Kong, Indonesia, South Korea and Taiwan are trading notably higher. Shanghai, Malaysia and Singapore are up marginally.
Nikkei 225 spurted by 92.21 points or 0.60% to 15,389.03, Hang Seng increased 113.84 points or 0.49% to 23,460.51, KOSPI Index soared 17.20 points or 0.86% to 2,011.08, Straits Times gained 1.62 points or 0.05% to 3,292.60, Jakarta Composite strengthened by 28.93 points or 0.58% to 5,050.00, Shanghai Composite added 0.62 points or 0.03% to 2,067.27, FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI jumped by 1.72 points or 0.09% to 1,884.87 and Taiwan Weighted was up by 33.14 points or 0.35% to 9,553.44.