Asian markets rose on Wednesday after the Dow closed at a record high on renewed optimism over the US economy and European markets soared following the release of impressive German factory orders data.
Tokyo climbed 1.35 per cent by the break, a day after the Nikkei finished at its highest level in almost five years, Seoul gained 0.25 per cent and Sydney increased 0.77 per cent.
Hong Kong was up 0.59 per cent while Shanghai added 0.42 per cent as official data showed China recorded an US$18.2 billion (HK$141.2 billion) trade surplus in April, higher than expected and reversing a rare deficit in March.
In New York Tuesday the blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average closed above 15,000 for the first time, jumping 0.58 per cent, or 87.31 points, to 15,056.20, bolstering equities such as Caterpillar.
The S&P 500 rose 0.52 per cent to 1,625.96 -- its fourth consecutive all-time closing high -- while Nasdaq increased 0.11 per cent.
Stocks have been buoyed of late by heavy monetary easing from central banks, an ECB interest rate cut to a record low 0.50 per cent, and positive jobs reports from the US.