Business Corpus: Stocks In Asia Attempt November Rally; Pound Jumps: Markets WrapMost stocks in Asia advanced Thursday, building on a rally in global equities in the final two days of what was still their worst month The post Stocks In Asia Attempt November Rally; Pound Jumps: Markets Wrap appeared first on Investor's Business Daily.

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Most stocks in Asia advanced Thursday, building on a rally in global equities in the final two days of what was still their worst month in more than six years. The pound climbed on hopes for progress in Brexit negotiations and the dollar weakened.

Hong Kong and Chinese stocks outperformed while Japanese equities fell with the telecommunications sector weighing on concerns over pricing pressures. China's yuan steadied near the weakest level in a decade as the country's leadership signaled that further stimulus measures are being planned. The dollar slipped from a 16-month high and the 10-year Treasury yield rose to touch 3.16 percent.

Sterling surged as the Times of London reported U.K. and European negotiators have reached a tentative agreement that would give U.K. financial services companies continued access to European markets after Brexit. The euro gained against the greenback. The Australian dollar climbed as the trade balance beat estimates and the New Zealand dollar also jumped.

Firm U.S. economic data and a strongly worded statement from a China Politburo meeting chaired by President Xi Jinping signaling increased urgency for more measures to combat the slowing economy helped buoy sentiment toward risk assets. Bulls are hoping equities can build on a recovery at the end of October, that marked the worst month for global shares since May 2012. The focus turns to Apple (AAPL) earnings Thursday, then to the monthly U.S. jobs report Friday.

Elsewhere, oil extended a decline after its worst month in more than two years. The Indian rupee climbed after paring a drop Wednesday as the finance ministry moved to diffuse growing tensions with the central bank. Emerging market currencies also gained. Earlier, technology giants rose and the S&P 500 Index posted its biggest two-day surge since February after Facebook (FB) earnings topped expectations.

Here are some key events still to come this week:

Earnings season includes: Macquarie (MIC), Apple, Alibaba (BABA), Credit Suisse (CS), Exxon Mobil (XOM), and Shell (SHLX). A monetary policy decision is due in the U.K. Thursday On Friday, the final U.S. jobs report before the November midterm elections may show hiring improved and that the unemployment rate held at a 48-year low.

And these are the main moves in markets:

Stocks

Topix index fell 0.9 percent at the 3 p.m. close in Tokyo. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index increased 1.8 percent. Kospi index rose 0.2 percent. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 Index added 0.2 percent. Futures on the S&P 500 Index gained 0.2 percent. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index increased 0.1 percent.

Currencies

The Japanese yen rose less than 0.1 percent to 112.90 per dollar. The offshore yuan edged less than 0.1 percent higher to 6.9703 per dollar. The euro increased 0.3 percent to $1.1343. The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index fell 0.2 percent.