Asian shares mostly rise cheered by Wall Street finish Boston 25 News [Video]

TOKYO — (AP) — Asian shares mostly rose Thursday after a firm finish on Wall Street, as expectations remained solid for U.S. interest rate cuts this year.

Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 jumped 1.7% to 40,120.11. Sydney’s S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.4% to 7,813.80. South Korea’s Kospi added 0.8% to 2,728.82. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng declined 1.2% to 16,725.10, and the Shanghai Composite slipped nearly 0.2% to 3,069.30.

Analysts say Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co’s (TSMC) facilities may get quicker-than-expected relief — easing concerns about production halts — after a powerful earthquake struck Wednesday, killing at least nine people. Trading was closed in Taiwan on Thursday and Friday for national holidays.

“Market participants took comfort in the weaker-than-expected U.S. services purchasing managers index overnight, which offset the surprise rebound in manufacturing activities earlier in the week and suggest that overall demand may still remain tame for the Federal Reserve’s inflation fight,” said Yeap …