Beijing, China (BBN)-Asian markets opened higher on Thursday, spurred by a rally on Wall Street and stronger commodity prices.
US shares snapped a two-day losing streak overnight, rebounding from Tuesday’s steep losses as the S&P 500 and Dow Jones rose nearly 2 per cent, reports BBC.
Rising oil prices, along with an upward revision in US productivity data boosted sentiment among investors rattled by slowing growth in China.
Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 index was up 1.8 per cent to 18,412.2 in early trade.
Chinese markets are closed on Thursday and Friday for a holiday to commemorate the end of World War Two.
In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 was up 0.8 per cent to 5,144.3 as resource and energy stocks rose to support the benchmark index.
Investors are also awaiting government data such as the trade balance and retail sales due out later in the morning session.
In South Korea, shares were up after revised second quarter growth figures turned out to be in line with earlier estimates released in July.
The economy grew a seasonally-adjusted 0.3 per cent from April to June from the previous three-month period, while it expanded 2.2 per cent from a year earlier.
The benchmark Kospi index was higher by 0.8 per cent at 1,929.6.
BBN/SK/AD