Stock indices of major Asia-Pacific countries are rising in trading on Friday, with bourses in Australia and Hong Kong not working due to the Easter holiday.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 index was up 0.2 percent by 8:42 a.m.
Shares of optical equipment maker Hoya Corp. (+2.4%), chipmaker Tokyo Electron Ltd. (+1.9%), insurer Dai-ichi Life Holdings Inc. (+1.9%) and automaker Mazda Motor (+1.9%) were among the leaders.
Meanwhile, Seven & I Holdings gained 4%. One of the largest trading companies in the world increased its net profit and revenues by about a third last fiscal year, which ended in February. However, the outlook for this fiscal year disappointed investors. The company expects its operating profit to be 513 billion yen ($3.9 billion) while analysts forecast an average of 526 billion yen.
China’s Shanghai Composite Index was up 0.3 percent by 8:47 a.m. Since the beginning of this week, it has added 1.4%, and it ends “in plus” for the fourth week in a row, said Trading Economics.
Shares of pharmaceutical companies Shouyao Beijing (+20%), Suzhou Zelgen Biopharmaceuticals (+14.8%) and Dizal Jiangsu Pharmaceutical (+11.4%) demonstrated considerable growth.
South Korea’s Kospi Index was up 1.3% by 8:40 a.m.
One of the world’s biggest chip and electronics maker Samsung Electronics Co. gained 4.5% and steelmaker Posco rose 1.4%.
At the same time, shares of automaker Hyundai Motor fell 0.2%.
