Asian markets got off to a positive start Thursday morning after tech shares led a huge surge on Wall Street. Higher commodities prices and a weaker dollar helped Australian shares rise quickly in early trading with the S&P/ASX 200 index gaining 84 points, or 2.1% to 4,008. Japan's Nikkei 225 average gained 210 points, or 2.3%, to 9,479.

The Japanese economy will likely recover in 2010 but falling prices will last until 2011, the International Monetary Fund said on Wednesday. In its annual assessment of the world's second-biggest economy, the IMF said Japan's gross domestic product could shrink by a record 6% this year but return to growth next year.

Another sign the Japanese economy may be stabilizing: manufacturers reported higher confidence for the fourth month in a row as industrial output grew. Service firms are still pessimistic about the future, though. Exports have rebounded but firms see a bleak domestic market for their goods, which could stall any recovery.