Most of the Asian markets are trading higher in the early deals on Thursday with the overnight positive close on Wall Street and data showing a less than expected rise in Chinese consumer price inflation aiding sentiment. Japan's Nikkei share average rose to a near eight-month high as the weak yen lifted sentiment ahead of a meeting later in the day between the central bank governor and prime minister fuelled expectations for additional easing. However, with investors treading cautiously at higher levels amid uncertainty about the near-term outlook, gains are just modest in most of the markets in the region. Among other markets in the Asia-Pacific region, Shanghai, Singapore and Indonesia are modestly higher. Hong Kong is up marginally, while South Korea and Taiwan are slightly lower.
FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI surged by 0.88 points or 0.05% to 1,871.73, Straits Times was jumped 10.45 points or 0.31% to 3,349.08, Nikkei 225 rose by 126.05 points or 0.80% to 15,914.83, Jakarta Composite gained by 24.66 points or 0.48% to 5,167.65, Shanghai Composite increased by 10.76 points or 0.46% to 2,329.07 and Hang Seng was up by 27.51 points or 0.11% to 24,732.87.
On the flip side KOSPI Index decreased by 1.83 points or 0.09% to 2,047.58 and Taiwan Weighted was down by 4.04 points or 0.04% to 9,353.57.