Asian markets trade higher

Asian markets were trading mixed on Thursday morning as markets in Hong Kong were because commodity prices firmed up, but Japanese shares were weak as the economy shrinked more than expected in the last quarter.

Accrosss Asia the Nikkei Stock Average was down 0.1% as Gross Domestic Product contracted 0.9% during Janurary to March quarter, posting a 3.7% decline year-on-year which dragged the Yen lower.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng gained 0.7% led by gains in commodity prices overnight. China's Shanghai Composite index was trading flat at 2,872. South Korea's Kospi Composite was down 0.3%, Singapore's Strait Times edged up 0.8% and Taiwan's weighted index was up 0.4%.