Asia stocks track Wall St rally, British rates in view

Asian stock markets rose Thursday following a positive lead from Wall Street, as investors look ahead to an expected Bank of England rate cut and the release of US jobs data. Oil prices extended gains in Asia, giving a lift to energy and mining stocks after mixed data from the US Department of Energy showed crude supplies up, but falling gasoline stock. A better-than-expected reading on US private jobs also supported a Wall Street rally, with payroll firm ADP reporting that private US companies