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Asian markets higher on Wall Street, Europe lead

But the euro weakened before a European Central Bank meeting on Thursday as traders waited to see if the bank would back a deal to help the eurozone, and oil slipped back after rising in the United States.

Tokyo closed up 0.41 percent, or 37.58 points, at 9,104.17, its highest finish in about two months, while Sydney was up 1.09 percent, or 45.0 points, to end at 4,172.2, led by mining and resources stocks.

Seoul finished 0.35 percent, or 6.63 points, higher at 1,874.45.

Hong Kong ended 0.13 percent, or 25.78 points, lower to close at 19,709.75, with the fall driven by profit-taking after recent gains.

Shanghai was flat, edging down 0.08 percent, or 1.87 points, to close at 2,227.32 as traders took to the sidelines before next week’s release of key economic data for June.

Investors are pinning their hopes on a new round of stimulus measures, known as quantitative easing, from the US Federal Reserve, after weak manufacturing data this week added to concerns about the world’s biggest economy.

They are looking to Friday when the US government releases its highly anticipated June job growth and unemployment numbers, with the data expected to encourage the Fed to implement more policy easing, dealers said.

Eurozone data, which showed unemployment at a euro-era high of 11.1 percent and weak manufacturing activity, has raised hopes that the ECB will cut its rate from the current record low of 1.0 percent to stem the bloc’s debt crisis.

“Macro factors are the market movers right now, with everyone expecting more rate cuts and currency printing,” said CLSA equity strategist Nicholas Smith.

Daniel Brdanovic, HSBC New Zealand chief manager, told Dow Jones Newswires that markets were expecting the ECB to trim rates but the bank’s statement would also be closely watched.

“Markets will be looking to see whether the ECB comes out to support what the European leaders came out with last week,” he said.

European leaders agreed at a key summit in Brussels last week to use emergency funds to recapitalise ailing banks directly. They also agreed to contribute $150 billion to boost growth.

US stocks were boosted on Tuesday by a report showing strong factory orders for May and robust June sales from leading American automakers.

In a trading session that ended early before the July 4 Independence Day holiday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 0.56 percent, the S&P added 0.62 percent, while the tech-rich Nasdaq put on 0.84 percent.

In early European trade Wednesday, the euro bought $1.2582 and 100.41 yen, against $1.2607 and 100.64 yen in US trade Tuesday. The dollar stood at 79.78 yen, from 79.83 yen in New York.

In afternoon Asian trade, New York’s main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in August fell 55 cents to $87.11 a barrel and Brent North Sea crude for August delivery shed 61 cents to $100.07.

Gold was at $1,616.50 an ounce at 1055 GMT, compared with $1,609.00 an ounce late Tuesday.