Asian markets are trading mostly higher this morning, taking cues from gains on the Wall Street on Friday. In Japan, stocks are trading higher, following recent mergers and acquisition activity and a weaker yen. Credit Saison and Ebara paced gains, after the companies boosted their profit forecasts. Among banks, Mizuho, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group and Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, traded higher, as risk appetite increased among investors. In Hong Kong, stocks are trading lower, led by a fall in developers, on speculation that China would act further to cool its property prices. China Resources Land and Hang Lung Properties lost values, after Hong Kong reported lower home sales last month. In South Korea, Hyundai Motor gained values, after company revealed a rise in its US sales, while Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction trade in positive territory, after Samsung Securities upgraded the stock. Nikkei 225 index is trading 0.6% higher, at 10,602.2. Hang Seng index is down 0.5%, at 23,791.5, while the Kospi index is trading 1.2% higher, at 2,096.5.

US markets ended higher on Friday, with the S&P 500 index staging a late rally, as upbeat corporate earnings and mixed jobs data boosted investor sentiments. JDS Uniphase, up 26.9%, led technology stocks higher, after the company reported a 38% rise in its revenues and upbeat earnings that surpassed market expectations, while Cisco Systems gained 0.6%, amid hopes of stronger second quarter results. Aetna advanced 12.5%, after the company reported better-than expected fourth quarter profit. Research In Motion rose 1.6%, benefiting from a broker’s upgrade. However, gains were limited, after US employment rose by 36,000 jobs in January, far less than expected. DJIA gained 0.3% or 29.9 points to 12,092.2. NASDAQ was up 0.6% or 15.4 points, at 2,769.3. S&P 500 index closed 0.3% higher, at 1,310.9.