Investors are betting on global economic growth this morning, pushing up most stock markets across the world ahead of key U.S. employment numbers.
Wall Street was set for a higher opening, with Dow Jones Industrial futures up 0.4 per cent to 12,304 and S&P 500 futures 0.4 per cent higher at 1,326.20. The U.S. non-farm payrolls report is expected to show 190,000 people were hired in March, fuelling optimism about the sustainability of growth in the world's largest economy.
In Europe, unemployment across the 17 euro countries fell below 10 percent in February for the first time in over a year. Joblessness fell by 77,000, helping to take the rate down to 9.9 percent from January's 10 percent.
Britain's FTSE 100 rose 0.9 per cent to 5,957.39. Germany's DAX was 0.9 per cent higher to 7,104.44, and France's CAC-40 climbed 0.6 per cent to 4,013.35.
Tokyo's Nikkei 225 stock average slid 0.5 per cent to close at 9,708.39, amid concerns over toxic radiation leaking from a nuclear plant. Hong Kong's Hang Seng gained 1.2 per cent to 23,801.90 and South Korea's Kospi added 0.7 per cent to 2,121.01.
Gold eased, slipping $4.20 to $1,434.70 an ounce.
Benchmark crude for May delivery was up 46 cents at $107.18 (U.S.) a barrel as fighters loyal to leader Moammar Gadhafi pushed back rebels from key areas in eastern Libya, dimming chances that the OPEC member's crude exports will resume soon.
Copper fell to a near two-week low, as investors fretted about stockpiles, dwindling demand and concerns that rebuilding in Japan will not start soon. Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange was traded at $9,360 a tonne.
The U.S. dollar was up 0.6 percent to 83.65 yen and rose against the euro to $1.4150. It was little changed against the loonie at $1.03.
The market is also waiting for the latest U.S. manufacturing numbers after Chinese factory data overnight showed production rose while cost inflation slowed, easing concerns about monetary tightening.