Gold Prices Fall Amid Rate Jitters; Copper Steady as China Stimulus Eyed 
Asian shares traded broadly higher on Wednesday morning as investors build confidence after positive trade data from China. The trade surplus expanded from 343.10 billion Yuan in November to 382.05 billion Yuan in December, according to the Customs General Administration of China (CGAC), while analysts expected the surplus to contract to 338.80 billion Yuan.
The fresh figures will come as somewhat of a relief to policymakers after China's recent run of bad news which has seen equity prices plunge some 13% since the start of the year.
Chinese equities stabilized on Tuesday but on Monday they closed some 5% lower as fears over the strength of the economy continued to hamper investor sentiment.
Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 index rallied 2.40% to 17,632.49 points in morning trade, while Tokyo's broader Topix gauge surged 2.66% to 1,439.31 points.
Hong Kong's benchmark Hang Seng index advanced 1.56% to 20,019.94 points at the opening bell on Wednesday, and mainland China's benchmark Shanghai Composite grew 0.72% to 3,044.49 points at the same time.
Korea's benchmark Kospi index jumped 1.18% to 1,913.17 points on Wednesday morning in Seoul.
Australia's benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index rose 0.68% higher to 4,958.80 points on Wednesday morning in Sydney, after WTI Futures rose over 1% at the beginning of Wednesday's session.
New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index rose 0.39% to 6,136.00 points this afternoon in Wellington.
