Asian shares reach new highs on vaccine hopes

Asian share markets recorded a new milestone peak, while U.S. stock futures performed positively on Wednesday. The series of gains could be attributed to investors’ upbeat sentiment brought by encouraging news about a coronavirus vaccine and efforts to roll out more fiscal stimulus.

MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan gained 0.51%, hitting an all-time peak of 646.10 during its session. Across the globe, the index’s gauge of stocks also surged. Down under, shares advanced 0.69% as Chinese shares increased 0.15%.

Japan’s Nikkei jumped 1.01%, hitting a 29-1/2 year high as investors’ confidence was supported by an increase in the country’s capital expenditure. South Korean shares, on the other hand, hiked 1.26% to place near a record peak.

S&P 500 e-minis also performed well with a 0.11% gain. This followed after Wall Street’s major indexes saw a vaccine-and stimulus-driven rally.