MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan advanced0.3% with Japan’s Nikkei finishing up 0.55% after hitting a one-year high. Australian shares climbed 0.3%.
Risk appetite was also aided after U.S. President Donald Trump lifted sanctions on Turkey saying a ceasefire in northern Syria was now permanent.
· Japan’s Nikkei index rallied to its highest level in more than a year on Thursday, as investors bought back recently beaten down semiconductor-related shares on optimism for improved corporate earnings.
The Nikkei benchmark share average ended up 0.55% at 22,750.60. It earlier rose to 22,780.99, the highest since Oct. 18, 2018. So far it is up13% for the year.
Shares rose for the fourth consecutive trading session as investors who recently sold off Japanese technology stocks turned into bargain hunters following Microsoft Corp’s higher-than-expected sales forecasts for its cloud computing services.
A slightly weaker yen, which tends to boost earnings repatriated from overseas, also supported share prices of Japan’s
· China stocks ended flat on Thursday in lacklustre trading, as investors awaited more policy signals ahead of a key meeting of the ruling Communist Party next week.
The blue-chip CSI300 index was unchanged at 3,870.67, while the Shanghai Composite Index was also flat at 2,940.92.
China's ruling Communist Party will hold a key meeting of its senior leadership next week after an unusually long delay since the last one, state media said, as the country grapples with issues ranging from a slowing economy to unrest in Hong Kong.
The pan-European Stoxx 600 climbed 0.3% in early trade, with autos rising 1.1% to lead gains while tech stocks slipped 1%.
Reference: Reuters, CNBC