Asian shares hovered near eight-month highs on Thursday as investors bet the Bank of England will cut interest rates to ward off the risk of recession following Britain's vote to leave the European Union.
MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS rose 0.5 percent, hovering near the highest level since November it reached on Wednesday.
Japan's Nikkei share average rose for a fourth straight day to a more than one-month high on Thursday, after the yen's weakness lifted risk sentiment.
The Nikkei ended 1.0 percent higher to 16,385.89, the highest closing level since June 10.
China stocks slipped on Thursday as investors sold metals, mining and materials shares following weak trade data.
The CSI300 index of the largest listed companies in Shanghai and Shenzhen fell 0.2 percent to 3,276.76 points, while the Shanghai Composite Index lost 0.2 percent to 3,054.02.
Hong Kong shares finished up on Thursday, following other Asian bourses higher, on hopes the Bank of England will cut rates to ward off a possible recession that could impact some Hong Kong companies.
The Hang Seng index rose 1.1 percent, to 21,561.06. The China Enterprises Index also gained 1.1 percent, to 9,010.10 points.
Reference: Reuters
Thai
Eng