Asian stocks climbed on Thursday, lifting the regional benchmark index to the highest in more than three months, as a US Federal Reserve survey stoked optimism about prospects for the world’s largest economy. Futures on the S&P 500 Index added 0.7% after the gauge rose 1.3% in New York on Wednesday after American Express said bad loans increased at a slower pace in March.
Asian markets (Thurs)
03:10 BST
Nikkei up 253.43 (2.9%) at 8,996.39
Topix up 16.67 (2.1%) at 851.92
Hang Seng down 52.61 (-0.34%) at 15,617.01
US markets (Wed)
S&P500 up 10.56 (1.25%) at 852.06
DJIA up 109.44 (1.38%) at 8,029.62
Nasdaq up 1.08 (0.07%) at 1,626.80
European markets (Wed)
FTSE100 down 20.59 (-0.52%) at 3,968.40
Eurofirst 300 down 1.74 (-0.22%) at 788.21
Currencies
04:10 BST
€/$ 1.3204 ( 1.3232)
$/¥ 99.08 (98.75)
£/$ 1.4991 (1.4867)
Commodities
03:05 BST
Brent Crude (ICE) up $0.51 at $52.39
Light Crude (Nymex) up $0.40 at $49.65
100 Oz Gold (Comex) down $1.60 at $891.90
Copper (Comex) down $0.40 at $219.50
10-year government bond yields (%)
03:50 BST
US 2.78 (2.79)
UK 3.26 ( 3.29)2
Germany 3.18 ( 3.18)
Japan 1.46 (1.45)
Sources: FT, Bloomberg