KUALA LUMPUR
The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index (KLCI) rose 5.96 points, or 0.53 per cent, to 1,125.38, at the opening.

TOKYO
Japan's Nikkei average rose 1 per cent on Thursday, led by Fast Retailing following strong overnight gains on Wall Street.

Buy orders flooded exporters like Toyota Motor and financials like Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group on a softer yen and eased worry about the bank sector after surprisingly strong results from a US bank.

As of 8.01am Singapore time, the benchmark Nikkei rose 129.00 points to 12,889.80. The broader Topix gained 1 per cent to 1,262.08.

SINGAPORE

Singapore stocks opened higher with the benchmark Straits Times Index (STI) up 56.41 points, or 2.0 per cent, to 2,891.73.

Some 34.2 million shares exchanged hands. Gainers beat losers 145 to 13. -- REUTERS, ST