Stocks in Asia are mostly higher, boosted by moves by China to rev up its economy. The Hang Seng in Hong Kong advanced 3.7% and the Shanghai Composite index jumped 2.1% after China’s central bank cut

Shares rolled higher in Asia on Thursday after U.S. stocks edged back from their records. Japan’s Nikkei 225 index gained more than 2% and U.S. futures and oil prices also advanced. The rally in Asia followed an announcement that the Chinese government plans to give cash handouts or discount vouchers to the poor ahead of next week's National Day holidays.

Wall Street is trading higher before the opening bell, following global markets that surged on reports that China plans to spend billions of dollars to help rebuild the capital of state-run banks and