Asian markets hit one month high on IMF prospects

Asian shares rose to their one-month high on Thursday following Wall Street gains amid positive US economic data and on hopes that the International Monetary Fund would boost its resources to help tackle the euro zone debt crisis. However, Australian dollar took a hit after a mixed jobs report disappointed markets. While Japan's Nikkei average rose as much as 1.4% to a five-week high. Asian credit markets were calm. Chinese market was up with report that China’s central bank is allowing a limited increase in first-quarter lending by the five biggest banks and the nation’s banking regulator is weighing a plan to relax capital requirements.

Markets in Taiwan remained close for a public holiday.