Asian stock markets are trading mostly higher on Thursday, following the broadly positive cues from Wall Street overnight, as traders indulged in picking up stocks at a bargain after stocks in the region mostly fell for an eighth straight session. China's pledge of more steps to shore up its economy is also aiding market sentiment. Asian Markets closed mostly lower on Wednesday.
The mood is quite cautious as traders braced for a hawkish message from the US Fed Chair Jerome Powell at the annual Jackson Hole economic symposium on Friday, which is expected provide clues about the central bank's monetary policy at the upcoming meeting.
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Market Analysis
May 01, 2026 15:54 ET Central banks dominated the economics news flow this week with almost all major ones announcing their latest policy decisions and many boosted expectations for a rate hike in June. In other news, several countries released the preliminary data for first quarter economic growth. In the U.S., comments by Fed Chair Jerome Powell were also in focus as his term ends this month.