• Asian shares advanced on Thursday on news the Trump administration has reached out to China for a new round of trade talks, which raised hopes for a deal easing the bitter tariff dispute between the world’s two biggest economies.

MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS rose 0.6 percent, a day after it hit 14-month lows.

• Japan’s Nikkei rallied to near two-week highs on Thursday as news of a proposed fresh round of trade talks between China and the United States lifted risk appetite, triggering buying in stocks which are exposed to Chinese demand.

The Nikkei share average soared 1.0 percent to 22,821.32, the highest closing level since August 31.

• China’s yuan strengthened on Thursday and its stock market rallied after an uncertain start, buoyed an invitation from the Trump administration to Chinese officials to restart trade talks.

The benchmark Shanghai Composite index .SSEC ended 1.1 percent higher at 2,686.58 points after closing at its lowest level since January 2016 on Wednesday.

Reference: Reuters, CNBC