Japanese shares near a 15-year high
Japan’s shares neared a 15-year high on Wednesday after the Bank of Japan (BOJ) maintained its asset purchase program in an effort to boost the economy.
In Tokyo, benchmark Nikkei 225 index was up 0.4% at 19,723.42.
The central bank has unchanged its policy since expanding stimulus in October to deal with the impact of slumping oil prices and easing inflation on Japan’s growth.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index was up 2.4% at 25,874.53 after a four-day break.
Investors welcomed speculation that the US Federal Reserve may put off raising rates in the short term following disappointing jobs data released last week.
Shares of train makers China CNR and CSR jumped 33% after they received regulatory approval to merge after the plans were announced in December.
Their shares had been suspended from trading since 30 March.
On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite was down 1.04% at 3,920.22 after its highest finish since March 2008 on Tuesday.
In Australia, the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index was up 0.40% at 5,949.50.
Shares of ANZ were down 0.5% despite news that it won an appeal against a court ruling that some of its credit card fees were unfair after thousands of customers launched Australia biggest ever class action lawsuit.
In South Korea, the benchmark Kospi index was up 0.44% at 2,056.05.
Source: BBC – Japanese shares near a 15-year high
