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Asian markets edge up on a strong lead from Wall Street Asian markets edge up on a strong lead from Wall Street
(about 1 hour later)
Asian markets have opened slightly up, taking the lead from good results on Wall Street overnight. Asian markets edged slightly higher on Friday morning, taking the lead from good overnight results on Wall Street.
The Nasdaq closed at a record high while the Dow Jones and the S&P 500 also ended in positive territory.The Nasdaq closed at a record high while the Dow Jones and the S&P 500 also ended in positive territory.
Japan's Nikkei 225, Asia's largest stock market, followed suit and rose by 0.2% to 20,648.37 in early trade. Japan's Nikkei 225, Asia's largest stock market, followed suit, rising by 0.2% to 20,650.20 in early trade.
But shares in the electronics company Sharp fell 4% on local media reports about a drop in quarterly sales and operating profit. But shares in the electronics giant Sharp fell 3% on local media reports that it would report a loss for the April to June quarter.
In South Korea, investors were looking ahead to a shareholder vote later in the day at construction firm Samsung C&T on whether it can go ahead with merger plans with holding company Cheil Industries. In South Korea, investors were looking ahead to a shareholder vote underway at construction firm Samsung C&T on whether it can go ahead with merger plans with holding company Cheil Industries.
The merger has come under fire from US hedge fund Elliott, the third-largest shareholder in Samsung C&T. The merger had come under fire from US hedge fund Elliott, the third-largest shareholder in Samsung C&T.
Shares of Cheil were up by 1.3% while Samsung C&T rose 2.3% ahead of the vote. Shares of Cheil were up by 0.3% while Samsung C&T traded flat.
The country's benchmark Kospi index was up by 0.4% to 2,095.18 points in early trading. The country's benchmark Kospi index was largely unchanged at 2,087.78 points.
In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 index fell 0.3% to 5,653.40 points. In mainland China, stocks were in positive territory in early trading, the Shanghai Composite was up 0.1% to 3,825.12 points.
The Hong Kong Hang Seng was up 0.3% at 25,241.74.
Traders are closely watching the Chinese indexes to gauge whether regulators' measures to stop the plunge of the past weeks have taken hold.
In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 index bucked the region's trend, falling 0.3% to 5,655.70 points.
But Evan Lucas, market strategist with IG, said in a note that he was optimistic about the general outlook for Australian stocks.But Evan Lucas, market strategist with IG, said in a note that he was optimistic about the general outlook for Australian stocks.
"China worries have died down and Greece is now a non-issue (until September, anyway). The next month or two may be the first positive months since February.""China worries have died down and Greece is now a non-issue (until September, anyway). The next month or two may be the first positive months since February."
The Shanghai Composite and Hong Kong's Hang Seng on Thursday closed in positive territory giving investors some confidence that Beijing's measures to stop the plunge of the past weeks have taken hold.