Most of the Asian stock markets are trading higher in the early deals on Thursday, with the overnight gains on Wall Street and as the China’s government announced stimulus policies. However, gains are just modest in most of the markets in the region as investors look ahead to the outcome of the European Central Bank's meeting, due later in the day. The Japanese market advanced on the yen's slight weakness against the greenback after US data signaled jobs growth in the world’s biggest economy, triggered some strong buying at several counters. A report showing an increase in the manufacturing activity in March also added to the upside. Among other markets in the Asia-Pacific region, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and South Korea are trading higher, while Shanghai and Taiwan are trading weak.
Hang Seng increased 87.78 points or 0.39% to 22,611.72, Jakarta Composite advanced by 19.54 points or 0.40% to 4,889.75, KLSE Composite rose 0.10 points or 0.01% to 1,852.10, Nikkei 225 soared 199.12 points or 1.33% to 15,145.44, Straits Times surged by 24.84 points or 0.78% to 3,217.62 and KOSPI Composite was up by 3.75 points or 0.19% to 2,001.00.
On the flip side, Shanghai Composite dropped 3.04 points or 0.15% to 2,055.95 and Taiwan Weighted was down by 26.76 points or 0.30% to 8,878.69.