MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose 1.5%, led by a 4% gain in Korean shares, while Japan's Nikkei 225 climbed 1.3%. (EPA Images pic)SINGAPORE: Asian stocks rose and bonds stabilised at the start of trading on Wednesday following Wall Street's gain as early indications from the corporate earnings season pointed to strong profits for global companies and bolstered investor confidence.
MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was up 1.5%, led by a 4% gain for Korean shares, while Japan's Nikkei 225 climbed 1.3%. S&P 500 e-mini futures rose 0.3%.
Stocks in the region have steadied since a wrenching selloff last week but have traded in a tight range since then. Overnight, stocks on Wall Street were mildly positive, pushing the S&P 500 0.3% higher as oil prices and Treasury yields eased. With 13% of S&P 500 companies reporting, 86% have beaten earnings estimates, according to LSEG data.
