Asian Markets Respond Positively to BoJ's Decision

Following the Bank of Japan's (BoJ) unanimous decision to maintain its benchmark interest rate at 0.5%, Japanese and Australian markets saw significant gains. The Australian S&P/ASX 200 rose by 0.25%, while Japan's Nikkei 225 climbed an impressive 1.20%, or 430 points, by 7:29 am CET.

Australia's Trade Surplus Expands

Adding to the positive sentiment, Australia reported a trade surplus expansion to 6.9 billion Australian dollars ($4.42 billion) in March, further bolstering investor confidence in the region.

Currency Movements and Market Closures

The dollar strengthened against the yen, trading 0.76% higher at ¥144.12300 by 7:27 am CET. Meanwhile, several Asia-Pacific markets, including South Korea, Hong Kong, and China, remained closed in observance of the Labor Day holiday.