Asian and Asia-Pacific equity markets opened mostly higher on Friday as enthusiasm for equities in the United States crossed the Pacific.
Although the Australian market was unchanged, the Japanese and South Korean bourses, among others, were up a little.
As of 11:05 am AEST (01:05 am GMT), Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 was flat but Japan’s Nikkei 225 and South Korea’s Kospi 200 were up by 0.1% each.
A higher close on Wall Street was the catalyst for the Asian market boost, with the S&P 500, Nasdaq Composite and Dow Jones Industrial Average having added 0.27%, 0.09% and 0.43% respectively on Thursday (Friday AEST).
In after-market trading U.S. stock futures had edged lower by between 0.11% and 0.16% by 10:30 am AEST (12:30 pm GMT).
In mainland China, the Shanghai Composite rose 0.1% and the CSI 300 added 0.2%. In Hong Kong the Hang Seng Index gained 0.6%, but India’s BSE Sensex defied the upward trend, falling 0.4%.
European markets had closed mixed overnight with the UK’s FTSE 100 jumping 1.2% and France’s CAC 40 gaining 0.3% but Germany’s DAX losing 0.4%.
Commodities were higher with Brent crude oil prices rising 0.6% to US$69.06 per barrel and spot gold gaining 0.2% to US$3,329.67 per ounce.
