This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-30721508

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Stocks in Asia up following positive data from the US Stocks in Asia rise following positive data from the US
(about 5 hours later)
Stocks in Asia were mostly up on Thursday, following Wall Street's lead and buoyed by a positive jobs survey in the US, together with hopes of further stimulus measures in the eurozone.Stocks in Asia were mostly up on Thursday, following Wall Street's lead and buoyed by a positive jobs survey in the US, together with hopes of further stimulus measures in the eurozone.
Japan's Nikkei 225 was up more than 1% in early morning trade on the news. Japan's Nikkei 225 closed up 1.67% in one of its best days in three weeks.
Oil prices rebounded slightly, too, from fresh lows seen earlier this week, giving a boost to investor confidence.Oil prices rebounded slightly, too, from fresh lows seen earlier this week, giving a boost to investor confidence.
The latest US jobs report found that private payrolls rose by 241,000 in December, up from 227,000 in November.The latest US jobs report found that private payrolls rose by 241,000 in December, up from 227,000 in November.
Further fresh figures from the US showed the country's trade deficit narrowed to an 11-month low in November, with the drop in oil prices cutting the cost of imports.Further fresh figures from the US showed the country's trade deficit narrowed to an 11-month low in November, with the drop in oil prices cutting the cost of imports.
The price of oil traded in the United States, known as West Texas Intermediate crude, has fallen below $50.The price of oil traded in the United States, known as West Texas Intermediate crude, has fallen below $50.
While the price of Brent crude had dipped below $50 a barrel for the first time since May 2009, hitting $49.66 a barrel, it later recovered to $51.20.While the price of Brent crude had dipped below $50 a barrel for the first time since May 2009, hitting $49.66 a barrel, it later recovered to $51.20.
More good newsMore good news
Other good news for investors in Asia came from Europe.Other good news for investors in Asia came from Europe.
The latest eurozone inflation figures showed inflation turned negative in December, with prices down 0.2% from a year earlier, but the data means the European Central Bank may be forced to try fresh stimulus measures to kick-start the economy.The latest eurozone inflation figures showed inflation turned negative in December, with prices down 0.2% from a year earlier, but the data means the European Central Bank may be forced to try fresh stimulus measures to kick-start the economy.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng was up 0.78% in morning trade, while the Shanghai Composite was bucking the trend, down 0.48% despite the good economic news from the US. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng was up 0.79% in afternoon trade, while the Shanghai Composite was bucking the trend, down 1.4% despite the good economic news from the US.
Australia's share market, the S&P/ASX 200, was up 0.77% after remaining in negative territory all day on Wednesday on oil price worries. Du Changchun, an analyst at Northeast Securities in Shanghai, said profit-taking was one factor behind Shanghai's market falling on Thursday.
In South Korea, the benchmark Kospi was up 1.12% in line with the majority of regional indexes. "Furthermore, the momentum for blue-chips seems to have weakened because of shrinking turnovers," he said.
Australia's share market, the S&P/ASX 200, finished the day up 0.52%.
In South Korea, the benchmark Kospi was up 1.11% in line with the majority of regional indexes.