Hong Kong technology stocks extended gains; NetEase-S (09999.HK) and Alibaba (09988.HK) rose more than 5%, Tencent Holdings (00700.HK) climbed over 4%, with Bilibili (09626.HK) and JD.com (09618.HK) also higher.

Japan's 10-year government bond auction on Thursday saw demand roughly in line with the 12-month average. Bid-cover ratio was 3.21 (previous auction 3.76; 12-month average 3.24). The tail (average winning price minus lowest winning price) widened to 0.25 from 0.02 last month. Domestic demand recovery and foreign inflows are providing support to JGBs; the 10-year yield has fallen from a late-September peak of 3.115% to 2.79%. The auction occurred amid declines in US Treasury yields after the US midterms reduced near-term fiscal-expansion risk with Democrats taking both chambers, and alongside lower crude prices as markets price a rising likelihood of an end to the Iran conflict.

Germany's energy giant Uniper raised its 2026 adjusted net profit outlook; shares rose 2.7%.