Most Asian indexes closed higher on Thursday and oil prices were up following the mixed close stateside as investors monitored potential fallout in the U.S. of FBI Director James Comey's dismissal.
The Nikkei 225 gained 61.46 points, or 0.3% to 19,961.55
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index vaulted 110.13 points, or 0.4%, to 25,125.55
Japanese automaker Toyota forecast yesterday that profits for this year would fall by 20% due to slowing U.S. sales and increased marketing costs. Toyota shares reversed losses above 1%during the trading session to close 0.7% higher at 6,123 yen a share.
Nomura maintained a buy call on the stock on the basis of Toyota's share buyback plans. The company had announced that it would buy back 1.7% of its shares.
Meanwhile, telecommunications giant SoftBank said annual profits increased by 13% on year but that it had incurred $2.2 billion U.S. in derivative losses. Shares of the company ended the session 2% higher.
In Singapore, shares of commodities trading company Noble Group tumbled more than 20% after the company issued a profit warning. Noble will announce Q1 results after trading hours today. Shares of the company last traded 19.3% lower.
OCBC announced that it would be acquiring the private wealth business of National Australia Bank in Singapore and Hong Kong. Shares of NAB were up 0.3% to finish at A$32.30 a stock and OCBC shares gained 1%
In New Zealand, the central bank announced it stood pat on interest rates. The Reserve Bank of New Zealand's comments on policy were regarded as dovish by the market.
The New Zealand dollar traded lower against the U.S. dollar at $0.6836, its lowest level it almost one year. The kiwi traded around the $0.69 handle seen just ahead of the news.
The U.S. dollar also edged lower against the yen, with the greenback fetching 114.08. Dollar/yen traded around 112 last week.
The Australian dollar eased against the U.S. dollar to trade at $0.7355, lower than the $0.74 handle seen last week.
In other markets
Shanghai’s CSI 300 recovered 18.95 points, or 0.6%, to 3,356.65
In Taiwan, the Taiex Index advanced 33.16 points, or 0.3%, to 10,001.48
In Korea, the Kospi index recovered 26.25 points, or 1.2%, to 2,296.37
In Singapore, the Straits Times Index returned from holiday to gain 21.14 points, or 0.7%, to 3,271.11
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 gained 65.51 points, or 0.9%, to 7,489.71
In Australia, the ASX 200 inched up 2.9 points, or 0.1%, to 5,878.34
