Asian shares higher after S&P 500 tops 4,000 points

BANGKOK — Asian shares were higher in listless trading Friday after a broad rally pushed the S&P 500 past 4,000 points for the first time.

Many markets were closed for Good Friday. Tokyo surged more than 1% and Seoul and Shanghai also gained.

Various industries are getting a lift from President Joe Biden’s massive infrastructural renewal initiative. The S&P 500 jumped 1.2% while the tech-heavy Nasdaq added 1.8%.

‘’As we enter Q2, optimism abounds as unquestionably spring is in the air with the macro focus squarely on the U.S. and the Biden administration infrastructure plan,” Stephen Innes of Axi said in a report.

Hopes are rising that the recovery from the pandemic and the boost to spending will spur a…