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	China reported exports rose 18.7 per cent in yuan terms in March, compared to a year earlier, while imports dipped only a slight 1.7 per cent. That was a huge improvement on February, even though data at this time of year tends to be distorted bythe new year holidays.</div>
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	The early investor reaction was to take the improvement on trust and push up China-sensitive assets such as the Australiandollar which climbed above 77 US cents.</div>
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	Shanghai stocks gained 1.9 percent while Japan&#39;s Nikkei rose 2.4 per cent to its highest in eight sessions. MSCI&#39;s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan added 1.4 per cent and Australia gained 1.1 per cent.</div>
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	The Thai stock market closed today until Friday on traditional New Year.&nbsp;</div>
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	- Reuters</div>

Asia shares extend rally on China trade relief

SYDNEY - Asian share markets gains on Wednesday after upbeat Chinese trade data offered hope the economy was stabilising, underpinning both risk sentiment and commodity prices.