Asia shares follow Wall Street higher, but virus risk lurks

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan added 0.2%, in its fourth day of gains. Japan's Nikkei rose 0.8% and hard-hit Australian shares finally managed a bounce of 1.6%. E-Mini futures for the S&P 500 dipped 0.4% after its overnight jump.

SYDNEY: Asian shares were looking to rally for a fourth straight session on Thursday as U.S. markets swung sharply higher and another dose of central bank stimulus offered some salve for the global economic outlook.

Wall Street seemed to find relief in the strong performance of former Vice President Biden in the Democratic nomination campaign. Biden is considered less likely to raise taxes and impose new regulations than rival Bernie Sanders.