· Stocks in Asia edged higher in lackluster trade on Thursday a day after Christmas, as markets in Australia and Hong Kong remained closed for the holiday.
Overall, the MSCI Asia ex-Japan index was 0.11% higher.
Major markets across the region — including Hong Kong, South Korea and Australia — were closed on Wednesday for Christmas.
· Japanese shares rose on Thursday, rallying after eight sessions of intra-day weakness in trades marking the final settlements for 2019 and driven by expectations of a Sino-U.S. trade deal early in the new year.
The Nikkei index ended 0.6% higher at 23,924, taking its gains for the year so far to 19.5%. The broader Topix index was up 0.57%.
The rally was broad-based, with investors counting on an end to the prolonged trade war to prop up a market that has been disproportionately hurt by flagging global demand, but led by the industrials and consumer discretionary sectors.
· China shares closed higher on Thursday after Beijing laid out plans to bolster its economy, which included investments in infrastructure and easing of residency curbs.
The blue-chip CSI300 index rose 0.9% to 4,025.99, while the Shanghai Composite Index closed up 0.9% at 3,007.35.
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