Asian shares hustled to one-month highs on Thursday after Wall Street strode to another record, while bonds rallied on wagers the European Central Bank would extend its stimulus campaign at a policy meeting later in the session.
Japan's Nikkei share average closed at the highest level since last December on Thursday as upbeat Chinese trade data boosted sentiment, while Tepco shares soared on news Japan will increase an interest-free loan related to its Fukushima costs.
The Nikkei ended 1.5 percent higher at 18,765.47, the highest level since December 2015.
China stocks fell slightly on Thursday, as investors grappled with mixed data showing better-than-expected November trade numbers but a sharp fall in foreign-exchange reserves.
The blue-chip CSI300 index fell 0.2 percent, to 3,470.14 points and the Shanghai Composite Index also lost 0.2 percent, to 3,215.37 points.
Hong Kong stocks rose for the third straight session on Thursday, drawing some support from Wall Street although demand was tempered by weakness in mainland shares after China's falling foreign exchange reserves deepened capital outflow concerns.
The benchmark Hang Seng index pared some early gains and added 0.3 percent at the close, to 22,861.84points, while the Hong Kong China Enterprises Index gained 0.7 percent, to 9,896.82 points.
Reference: Reuters
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