Investing.com – Asian stocks were broadly higher on Thursday, as the Nikkei was boosted by an upward revision to Japanese GDP data, while shares in Australia were higher following upbeat employment data.
During late Asian trade, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index was up 0.34%, South Korea's Kospi Composite jumped 1.70%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index gained 0.52%.
Earlier in the day, official data showed that Japan’s economy grew more-than-expected in the third quarter, expanding by a seasonally adjusted 4.5%, after rising by 3.9% in the preceding quarter. Analysts had expected Japan’s economy to grow by 4.1% in the third quarter.
Shares in Japan’s largest lender Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group soared 3.73%, rivals Nomura Holdings saw shares surge 3.88%, while shares in the nation’s third-biggest bank Mizuho Financial Group jumped 2.92%.
Elsewhere, shares in many of the in many of the big name Japanese exporters advanced as the yen weakened against the euro.
Shares in Japan’s second-largest automaker Honda, which gets approximately 80% of its revenue abroad, rallied 1.59%, rivals Nissan saw shares climb 1.23%, while shares in the world’s largest digital camera maker Canon added 0.73%.
Elsewhere, Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 Index jumped 0.88%, after official data showed that the nation’s unemployment rate declined, while the number of people employed rose significantly more-than-expected in November.
Shares in the nation’s largest lender National Australia Bank surged 1.61%, while rivals Westpac Banking Group saw shares jump 2.44%.
Meanwhile, shares in the commodity sector were broadly higher as metal prices advanced. Shares in the world’s largest mining group BHP Billiton gained 1.29%, while rivals Rio Tinto saw shares add 0.89%.
The outlook for European equity markets, meanwhile, was upbeat. The EURO STOXX 50 futures pointed to a gain of 0.57%, France’s CAC 40 futures indicated a rise of 0.52%, the FTSE 100 futures pointed to an increase of 0.41%, while Germany's DAX futures were up 0.45%.
Later in the day, the U.S. was to publish key weekly data on initial jobless claims.
During late Asian trade, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index was up 0.34%, South Korea's Kospi Composite jumped 1.70%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index gained 0.52%.
Earlier in the day, official data showed that Japan’s economy grew more-than-expected in the third quarter, expanding by a seasonally adjusted 4.5%, after rising by 3.9% in the preceding quarter. Analysts had expected Japan’s economy to grow by 4.1% in the third quarter.
Shares in Japan’s largest lender Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group soared 3.73%, rivals Nomura Holdings saw shares surge 3.88%, while shares in the nation’s third-biggest bank Mizuho Financial Group jumped 2.92%.
Elsewhere, shares in many of the in many of the big name Japanese exporters advanced as the yen weakened against the euro.
Shares in Japan’s second-largest automaker Honda, which gets approximately 80% of its revenue abroad, rallied 1.59%, rivals Nissan saw shares climb 1.23%, while shares in the world’s largest digital camera maker Canon added 0.73%.
Elsewhere, Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 Index jumped 0.88%, after official data showed that the nation’s unemployment rate declined, while the number of people employed rose significantly more-than-expected in November.
Shares in the nation’s largest lender National Australia Bank surged 1.61%, while rivals Westpac Banking Group saw shares jump 2.44%.
Meanwhile, shares in the commodity sector were broadly higher as metal prices advanced. Shares in the world’s largest mining group BHP Billiton gained 1.29%, while rivals Rio Tinto saw shares add 0.89%.
The outlook for European equity markets, meanwhile, was upbeat. The EURO STOXX 50 futures pointed to a gain of 0.57%, France’s CAC 40 futures indicated a rise of 0.52%, the FTSE 100 futures pointed to an increase of 0.41%, while Germany's DAX futures were up 0.45%.
Later in the day, the U.S. was to publish key weekly data on initial jobless claims.