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Asian shares up on oil prices and US stock rally Japanese shares up first time in four days on US rally
(about 5 hours later)
Asian markets opened higher on Thursday, spurred by a rally on Wall Street and stronger commodity prices. Japan's Nikkei index closed higher for the first time in four days, spurred by a rally on Wall Street.
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%.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%.
Rising oil prices, along with an upward revision in US productivity data boosted sentiment among investors rattled by slowing growth in China. An upward revision in US productivity data ahead of the jobs report on Friday boosted sentiment among investors rattled by slowing growth in China.
Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 index was up 1.8% to 18,412.2 in early trade. Japan's Nikkei 225 index closed up 0.5% to 18,182.39 - leading Asian gains.
Chinese markets are closed on Thursday and Friday for a holiday to commemorate the end of World War Two.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% to 5,144.3 as resource and energy stocks rose to support the benchmark index. Rest of Asia lower
Investors are also awaiting government data such as the trade balance and retail sales due out later in the morning session. In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 index ended down 1.3% at 5,035.70. Shares in department store operator Myer Holdings dived 24% after it announced plans to raise 221m Australian dollars ($154m; £101m) through a rights issue.
In South Korea, shares were up after revised second quarter growth figures turned out to be in line with earlier estimates released in July. In South Korea, shares closed flat after revised second quarter growth figures came out in line with earlier estimates released in July.
The economy grew a seasonally-adjusted 0.3% from April to June from the previous three-month period, while it expanded 2.2% from a year earlier.The economy grew a seasonally-adjusted 0.3% from April to June from the previous three-month period, while it expanded 2.2% from a year earlier.
The benchmark Kospi index was higher by 0.8% at 1,929.6. The benchmark Kospi index finished at 1,915.53.