Asia markets all climb after U.S. stocks jump on inflation data

Asia-Pacific markets saw gains after Wall Street rose following U.S. inflation data that met expectations. The U.S. consumer price index in February climbed 0.4% on the month and 3.2% year over year, while economists had forecast a 0.4% increase month on month and 3.1% year over year. Core inflation, which excludes food and energy, rose 0.4% compared to a forecast gain of 0.3%. In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 started the day up 0.24%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 and Topix rose 0.73% and 0.79% respectively. South Korea’s Kospi climbed 0.48% after a decrease in unemployment rate. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index was set to open weaker. In the U.S., all three major indexes rose, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite gaining 1.12% and 1.54% respectively, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.61%.