In Asian Equity Markets Greater China markets initially opened mixed, but staged a comeback to lead the rest of Asia. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index climbed 1.34 percent, while the Shanghai composite was up 1.60 percent. In Japan, the Nikkei 225 was up 1 percent and the Topix index was 0.77 percent higher. Over in South Korea, the Kospi was 0.64 percent higher. Australian stocks, meanwhile, saw relatively modest gains. The ASX 200 index inched up 0.39 percent, with the heavily weighted financials sub-index rising by 0.71 percent.

In Currency Markets the pound largely held onto overnight gains on Thursday after British Prime Minister Theresa May pulled through a no-confidence vote on her leadership that bought her more time to try to sell her unpopular Brexit deal to a deeply divided parliament. The euro edged higher against the dollar after Italy lowered its deficit target for next year and said it expected the European Commission to accept its new 2019 budget proposal. The euro edged higher to $1.1371 after tacking on nearly 0.5 percent during the previous session.

In Commodities Markets oil prices rose on Thursday, buoyed by a drawdown in U.S. crude inventories and signs that China is taking more concrete steps to put a trade war truce with Washington into action. Crude oil prices have also been supported by OPEC-led supply curbs announced last week, although gains were capped after the producer group lowered its 2019 demand forecast.International Brent crude oil futures were at $60.46 per barrel, up 0.52 percent, from their last close. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were at $51.40 per barrel, up 0.49 percent.

In US Equity Markets stocks closed up on Wednesday, though well below their session highs as investors pulled back in the last few minutes of trading despite optimism about U.S.-China trade relations and some reassuring signs in British politics. The S&P 500 gained 0.54 percent, to 2,651.07 and the Nasdaq Composite added 0.95 percent, to 7,098.31. Of the S&P’s 11 major sectors eight showed gains. China-based music streaming company Tencent Music Entertainment  gained 7.7 percent in its New York Stock Exchange debut on Wednesday.

In Bond Markets U.S. Treasury yields climbed on Wednesday on signs of progress in U.S.-China trade discussions and easing tensions on Britain’s exit from the European Union after UK Prime Minister Theresa May looked to have garnered enough support to survive a no-confidence vote.U.S. Treasury prices also remained lower after a lackluster 10-year auction, picking up a yield of 2.915 percent, higher than that before the bid deadline. The ratio of bids to the amount offered was 2.35, the lowest reading since February.