Asian stocks advance after US House votes to raise debt ceiling

Stocks edged higher in Asia and futures markets tipped European shares to rally on Thursday after the US House of Representatives voted to raise the debt ceiling, sending the bill to the Senate where it is expected to be passed.

Hong Kong’s benchmark Hang Seng stock index and Japan’s Topix both rose 0.8 per cent, and the CSI 300 index of Shanghai- and Shenzhen-listed stocks advanced 0.7 per cent.