Global shares advance on U.S. stimulus, strong figures

Global share markets gained on Thursday. This was mainly from investors’ upbeat sentiment over fresh stimulus in the United States. However, caution was seen ahead of the upcoming presidential poll, while technical difficulties in Japan restricted gains.

MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan recorded a 0.3% gain as Australian shares advanced 1.4%. Futures for the S&P 500 were 0.6% higher in Asia, tracking Wall Street’s upbeat session overnight backed by strong employment data and encouraging developments in U.S. stimulus talks.

However, regional trade was restricted by system glitches at the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) and holidays in China and South Korea. The technical malfunction had resulted in the suspension of all share trading in Japan. More so, the TSE did not provide any schedule as to when it would resume its trading operations.