FXstreet.com (Barcelona) - Asian markets have traded higher on Thursday following strong advances in European and US stock markets on Wednesday ad European debt woes ease, with focus on ECB's monetary policy decision , later today, expected to announce the Bank's plans to support the Euro. In Japan, the Nikkei Index rose 1.8%, while Chinese Shangai Composite Index and Hong Kong Hang Seng Index 1.6% higher each, and Australian ASX Index jumping 2.0% higher, despite weak retail sales data. Investors in Asian have followed Wall Street, which posted strong gains on Wednesday after better then expected ADP data which added confidence to a strong manufacturing report in China. Euro and Pound pick up from recent lows EUR/USD bounced up yesterday as fears about debt contagion in the Euro Area eased, and from -month lows at 1.2965, the pair advanced to 1.3180, to consolidate around 1.3100 during Asian session. GBP/USD decline from 1.6085 high on November 22 found support at 1.5485 on Tuesday, and the pair picked p yesterday as risk aversion faded, to reach 1.5650 resistance area, which capped recovery on US session. In Asian trade, the Sterling has been consolidating above 1.5600. USDJPY retreat from 84.40 high on Tuesday found support at 83.25/35 area yesterday, and the pair bounced up strongly to revisit 84.40 resistance, which remained intact, as the Dollar eased to 84.10 area over the Asian session.

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