Asian stock markets started the week's last trading day on the upside in a situation where investors hope that the American government apparatus avoids a shutdown.
In Tokyo, both the important Nikkei 225 index and the broader Topix index were up 0.8 percent each at lunchtime.
It was even more cheerful in Hong Kong, where the Hang Seng index rose 2.5.
The composite indexes in Shanghai and Shenzhen followed the same pleasant pattern as they both increased 1.6.
American Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said on Thursday local time that he is not willing to risk a shutdown of the government apparatus and that he will therefore vote yes to the Republicans' budget proposal in a crucial vote on Friday. In the Senate, support from at least seven Democrats is required to avoid a shutdown.
