Markets took their cue from an overnight rally on Wall Street after a bigger-than-expected drop in US unemployment claims calmed investors' nerves

Hong Kong's benchmark saw the biggest losses in Asia with China's Politburo meeting announcing no new detailed efforts to boost the world's second-biggest economy

Focus in the region was on how Indian markets performed after stocks sank and the rupee slid a day before

While until a few months ago incumbent PM Modi seemed sure to win a large majority, voter fatigue and a resurgent opposition may spring a surprise on investors

Chinese, Hong Kong, Singapore and South Korean markets were closed for the Lunar New Year, while Japan was also shut for National Day

After a smaller-than-expected interest rate cut raised doubts on whether Chinese policymakers would act forcefully enough to support the economy, investors are positioning for a longer game

Investors from abroad purchased a net $872 million of stocks in April in India, Indonesia, the Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam

Goldman Sachs estimates that $100 billion to $200 billion of foreign holdings could be at risk if global funds significantly cut their allocations of Chinese equities

Shares in Japan closed at their highest level in nearly seven weeks, while world stocks also hit a five-week high and most Asian currencies also eked out gains after a decline in the dollar index

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Ltd (HKEX) is weighing opening global offices to woo companies and investors in Europe and North America

"It is turning into a Black Monday in Asia," Oanda wrote in a client note. "The R-word (is) now on everyone's lips" amid "a scramble to reassess Fed hiking expectations."

ADDX uses blockchain and smart contract technology to tokenise and fractionalise pre-IPO equity, private equity and hedge funds, as well as bonds