World stocks hit a 12-month high on Wednesday as forecast-beating Intel Corp results and Chinese trade data brightened the economic outlook, while the U.S. dollar plumbed 14-month lows, sending oil and gold higher.
The Shanghai’s 300 Composite Index advanced 28.88, or 0.9%, to 3,227.40.
Data showed the pace of Chinese exports and imports slowed in September, boding well for China's recovery. Chinese copper imports in particular were a surprise, jumping 23% against an expected fall, pushing London copper futures up 2%.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index vaulted 419.12 points, or 2%, to 21,886.48.
In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 stumbled 16.35 points, or 0.2%, to 10,060.21.
The Bank of Japan left key interest rates unchanged at 0.1% on Wednesday as expected, and BOJ Governor Masaaki Shirakawa said the board decided it was best to review the central bank's corporate lending measures at its next meeting or later.
The yen got a boost against the dollar after a deputy of Japanese Finance Minister Hirohisa Fujii said Japan should not step into the foreign exchange market just because the yen rises.
The U.S. dollar hit 14-month lows against the euro of $1.4906, according to electronic trading platform EBS.
Elsewhere:
Taiwan’s Taiex index regained 99.15 points, or 1.3%, to 7,695.75
Singapore’s Straits Times index advanced 40.08 points, or 1.5%, to 2,708.48
Korea’s Kospi index picked up 20.16 points, or 1.2%, to 1,649.09
New Zealand’s NZX 50 Index added 17.02 points, or 0.5%, to 3,186.48
Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 finished 45.40 points, or 1%, higher at 4,831.10.
