Asian shares rose on Thursday as markets wagered that U.S. rates have peaked after more dovish remarks from Federal Reserve officials, while traders awaited the U.S. consumer inflation report later in the day for further monetary policy clues.
MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) gained 0.7% to the highest level in three weeks. Tokyo’s Nikkei (.N225) rallied 1.3% for a third straight day, climbing away from its five-month low hit last week.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index (.HSI) jumped 1.8%, driven by a 3% surge in banking shares (.HSMBI) after Central Huijin Investment, China’s state fund, raised stakes in the big four banks. China’s blue chips (.CSI300) rose 0.7%.
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