Asian markets firm in early trades

The Asian markets have opened on a positive note. The Hang Seng has advanced 165 points or 1% at 21,403. The Nikkei has added 79 points or 1% to 11,168.

The Shanghai Composite Index is margianlly up 13 points at 3,122.

The Straits Times, Seoul Composite Index and the Taiwan weighted indices are up 1% each.