Asian stocks rally resumes on stimulus hope

Hong Kong - Asian markets got back into their positive groove on Thursday following a fresh Wall Street record as traders are pumped up by strong corporate results and expectations for fresh stimulus.

After a slight stumble on Tuesday and on Wednesday caused by profit-taking, the equities rally resumed with Tokyo again leading the pack following a report that Japan is planning a new, giant stimulus programme.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is eyeing a package of at least ¥20trn to kick start the economy from years of slumber and light a fire under torpid inflation, about double the size initially expected, Kyodo News agency said.

The likelihood of more yen flooding financial markets sent the currency tumbling, which in turn boosted stocks, particularly exporters who benefit from a weaker unit.

The Nikkei ended the morning 1.1% higher, with the dollar climbing to ¥107.40 from ¥106.87, and well up from the ¥100 levels seen before the US released blockbuster jobs data at the start of the month.

Other stock markets followed suit, with Hong Kong up 0.5%, wiping out all the losses suffered since the tumultuous start of the year.

Shanghai climbed 0.2% higher, while Sydney added 0.6% and Seoul gained 0.1%. Singapore, Wellington and Taipei also rallied.

The advances follow a positive lead from Wall Street, where the Dow and S&P 500 closed at all-time highs on the back of a string of upbeat earnings reports and outlooks from big-name firm such as Microsoft, Intel and Morgan Stanley.

"We have better corporate earnings, likely bold fiscal stimulus in Japan, zero interest rates helping to absorb every macro shock we hear about and broad monetary easing," Chris Weston, chief market strategist at IG in Melbourne, told Bloomberg News.

"If equity markets can't rally in this environment they never will and really the key concern holding back fresh capital is significantly elevated valuations."

Next on the agenda is the European Central Bank's next policy meeting later in the day, after which boss Mario Draghi is expected to promise to provide back-up in the event of any fallout from Britain's decision last month to leave the EU.

The meeting comes days after the International Monetary Fund cut its global growth forecast, citing the uncertainty created by the shock European Union exit vote.