Asian shares mostly rise, cheered by a US rally and easing oil prices - Audacy

Asian equity markets advanced on Thursday, taking their cue from a strong session on Wall Street and a pullback in crude oil prices. The gains were broad but moderate, with benchmarks in Japan, South Korea and Australia among those moving higher, while Chinese markets lagged. The tone reflected a familiar pattern: when U.S. equities rally and energy costs ease, risk appetite tends to improve across Asia's export-heavy economies.

The softening in oil matters for more than sentiment. Lower crude prices can ease input costs for manufacturers and transport firms, and they feed directly into headline inflation readings across the region. For investors, that combination — firmer global equities and cheaper energy — supports the case that inflation pressures may be moderating without a sharp hit to growth.

What to watch from here: whether the oil decline holds, how the U.S. session closes, and any signals from regional central banks on the rate path. Asian markets often amplify moves from overseas, so sustained gains will likely depend on follow-through in the U.S., not just a single day's rally.