singapore asiapacific stocks looked set to trade higher at the thursday open as investors in the region look ahead to the bank of japans latest monetary policy decision futures pointed to a higher open for japanese stocks the nikkei futures contract in chicago was at 26485 while its counterpart in osaka was at 26480 higher than the nikkei 225s last close at 2638663 japans retail sales figures for march are set to be out at 750 am hksin today the bank of japan is set to announce its latest monetary policy decision at 1100 am hksin on thursday australian stocks also looked poised for a positive start with the spi futures contract at 7285 against the spasx 200s last close at 2638663 investors in asiapacific will continue to monitor developments surrounding the covid situation in mainland china