Investing.com - Asian stocks gained on Thursday after upbeat U.S. employment data tempered investor risk aversion and oil prices rebounded mildly.
Hopes that the European Central Bank will embark upon bolder stimulus after data showing the euro zone had slipped into deflation also shored up risk assets, hit this week by concerns over tumbling oil prices and global economic weakness.
South Korea's Kospi climbed 0.7 percent. Tokyo's Nikkei 225 was up 0.9 percent
In contrast, the Federal Reserve is still expected to lift interest rates, although the timing remains unclear. Minutes of the December meeting released on Wednesday offered no new clues on when the Fed will move.
Overnight, U.S. stocks were higher after the close on Wednesday, as gains in the Health Care, Consumer Goods and Consumer Services sectors led shares higher.
At the close in New York, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1.23%, while the S&P 500 index added 1.16%, and the NASDAQ Composite index gained 1.26%.