Asian markets head up Thursday

Asian markets headed up Thursday on the heels of a four-session rally in U.S. markets.

Markets in India were closed Thursday, but the Nikkei average in Japan rose 2 percent to 8,373.39 on a gain of 160.17 points.

China's Hang Seng index rose 1.37 percent, up 182.61 to 13,552.06. The Singapore Straits Times index fell 0.04 percent to 1,710.52, down 0.61 points, while the S&P/ASX index in Australia rose 1.36 percent, up 48 points to 3,588.00.

In Korea, the Kospi composite index rose 3.3 percent, The Wall Street Journal reported.

The sustained uplift in U.S. markets may tail off, one Australian observer said. Not many of us expect it to be up again on Friday. Our market is just waiting for the night when all of a sudden it's down 500 points, Chris Blair in Sydney told the Journal, referring to the DJIA.

In currency trading Thursday, the dollar fell against the yen to 95.35 yen from Wednesday's 95.61 yen. The dollar gained against the euro at $1.2887 compared with Wednesday's $1.2906.

You must sign in to comment