Korean Air, Asiana and SIA higher, JAL steady. AirAsia, Virgin Blue and Qantas lose ground

Shares in Korean Air and Asiana Airlines rebounded 2.2% and 1.5%, respectively, on Thursday, as the broader Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 2.2% after jitters at the start of the week over the North Korean nuclear test. Wall Street's solid lead overnight could pave the way for another rise on the KOSPI today, though airline stocks could come under pressure from higher oil prices.