Asian markets higher ahead of NFP job results; gold steady around $1,360

All the Asian indices are trading on a higher note ahead of the U.S. nonfarm pay roll job data. The consensus forecast is for a 180,000 gain in jobs and a slight fall in the unemployment rate, from 4.9% to 4.8%. U.S. released ADP job data with positive numbers at 179K m/m vs 176K m/m previous release.

Gold and silver are almost flat ahead of NFP job data. Gold was trading around $1,360 and silver was trading around $20.32 marks.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 was trading 0.28 percent higher at 16,300.42 points.

South Korea’s Kospi was trading 0.68 percent higher at 2,013.28 points.

Shanghai composite index to open down 0.1 pct at 2,978.78 points and China's CSI300 index to open flat at 3,201.35 points.

Hong Kong’s Hang seng was trading 1.35 percent higher at 22,128.15 points.

Australia's S&P/ASX 200 was trading 0.46 percent higher at 5,501.10 points.

New Zealand's S&P/NZX 50 was trading slightly higher at 7,299.92 points.