Asian shares tracked Wall Street higher on Thursday. This followed even though sentiment was dull ahead of U.S. employment data. Meanwhile, copper prices recorded six-month highs on a bright global outlook and supply concerns in top producer Chile.
All major indexes were seen upbeat on vaccine hopes, driving MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares up with a 0.9% gain. Japan’s Nikkei advanced 0.4% as China’s blue-chip index and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index both jumped with 0.6% and 1.7% gains.
E-mini futures for the S&P 500 were flat.
U.S. employment figures due on Thursday will determine how far the world’s largest economy can sustain its fragile recovery. This came as a concern given that several southern states have seen an upsurge in new coronavirus cases.