Regional markets rose in opening trades on Thursday after gains by big technology companies and relatively steady oil prices and bond yields helped lift Wall Street overnight.

In Hong Kong, the benchmark Hang Seng Index opened up 171 points, or 0.68 percent, at 25,482.

The China enterprises index was 63 points or 0.75 percent, higher at 8,513 while the tech index was up 32 points, or 0.71 percent, at 4,549.

On the mainland, the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index opened up 11 points, or 0.29 percent, at 3,952.

The Shenzhen Component Index was 99 points, or 0.73 percent, higher at 13,711 while the ChiNext Index was up 0.9 percent at 3,342.

In Tokyo, the Nikkei lost ground to be 114 points, or 0.18 percent, up at 64,439 at one stage before lunch after opening more strongly by 399 points higher.

In Seoul, the Kospi opened 87 points, or 1.33 percent, higher at 6,650 and was little changed at one stage before noon.

“You’ve seen a nice spike in [bond] yields over the past week or so, and that’s made the market a little bit nervous about how much is too much,” said Michael Antonelli, market strategist at Baird.

“But today, [there was] no real move in yields that’s enough to cause any more consternation.”

Investors welcomed some encouraging signals about demand for artificial intelligence from two big tech companies, Dell and Palo Alto Networks.

The AI boom has been the key driver behind the S&P 500’s gains this year. (Agencies)



Edited by Tony Sabine