China's ruling Communist Party unveils a new leadership line-up on Thursday to steer the world's second-largest economy for the next five years, with Vice President Xi Jinping taking over from outgoing President Hu Jintao as party chief.

Macau gaming counter SJM Holdings is among the few companies expected to post third-quarter corporate earnings later in the day.

On Wednesday, the Hang Seng Index rose 1.2 percent to 21,442 points, rebounding from a one-month low hit on Tuesday. The China Enterprises Index of the top Chinese listings finished up 1.7 percent.

Elsewhere in Asia, Japan's Nikkei was up 1.1 percent, while South Korea's KOSPI was down 1.2 percent at 0052 GMT.