Elsewhere in Japan, core consumer prices in Tokyo, a leading indicator of nationwide trends, rose 4.3% in January from a year earlier, marking the fastest annual gain in nearly 42 years. The Japanese yen strengthened 0.38% to 129.71 per dollar as the data reinforced market expectation that rising inflation could nudge the Bank of Japan to move away from its ultra-easy policy.
Asian equities rose to a fresh seven-month high on Thursday, with Hong Kong shares playing catch-up to other markets' gains as trade resumed after its three-day Lunar New Holiday. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan climbed 0.56% to 555.81.