Gold Prices Fall Amid Rate Jitters; Copper Steady as China Stimulus Eyed 
Major Asian markets are trading on higher note on Thursday on the back of improving global sentiments. In addition, US markets closed much higher overnight on the back of rising oil prices.
The Nikkei 225 index rallied 2.47% to 16,227.93 points in early trade, while the broader Topix index jumped 2.27% to 1,311.45 points in Tokyo.
Hong Kong's Heng Seng index was trading 2.12% higher to 19,325.5 points, and mainland China's Shanghai Composite index rising 0.50% to 2,881.78 points.
South Korea's benchmark Kospi index boosting 0.86% up to 1,900.66 points early in the trading day.
Australia's S&P/ASX 200 index was trading 1.80% higher to 4,970.40 points.
New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index rose 0.46% to 6,113.72 points on Thursday afternoon in Wellington.
