New Delhi, April 15 -- Asian markets traded higher on Wednesday, following an overnight rally on Wall Street, amid hopes for a resumption of US-Iran peace talks, which improved risk appetite. A drop in crude oil prices also supported the rally.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan gained 1.5% to the highest level in six weeks. Japan's Nikkei also rallied 1.2% to 58,561, closing in on the record high of 59,332.43 from late February. The broader Topix rose 0.7% to 3,781.25.

Chinese blue-chips rose 0.5%, and Hong Kong's Hang Seng index gained 1.2%. South Korea's Kospi surged 3.02%, and the Kosdaq gained 1.65%.

US President Donald Trump said talks with Iran could resume in Pakistan over the next two days. Pakistani an...