Asia markets post mostly moderate gains

ASIAN markets traded slightly higher on Thursday, in line with a US session that saw earnings beat consensus estimates.

Markets were also given a boost by Wednesday's weak manufacturing figures from the eurozone, which added to hopes of a rate cut by the European Central Bank. Singapore's Straits Times Index (STI) followed Wednesday's mild dip with a gain of 12.82 points or 0.4 per cent to close at 3,381.26.

Elsewhere in the Asia-Pacific, markets in Australia, China, Hong Kong, Japan and Malaysia ended Thursday's session with gains. Meanwhile, South Korea, which has underperformed global peers on the back of disappointing corporate earnings and a sluggish economy, bucked the trend, closing lower.