Shares mostly advanced in Asia on Thursday after U.S. stocks rose following better-than-expected profit reports from Morgan Stanley, United Airlines and other big companies.
Chinese markets gained after officials in Beijing announced the government was expanding financing for housing projects to try to turn around a slump in the property market triggered by a crackdown on excessive borrowing by developers.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index gained 0.9 to 20,460.86, while the Shanghai Composite index was up 0.1 at 3,205.95.
China is due to announce its economic growth data for the April-September quarter on Friday. Economists are forecasting annual growth at about 4.5, short of the government's target of about 5.
China's leaders have promised more measures to help boost the economy, but so far have not provided details of stimulus on a scale that would satisfy investors hoping to see reforms that might address longer term problems such as massive local debt and weak consumer demand.
