Asian shares were mostly higher on optimism about a U.S.-China trade deal as regional markets opened the new year's first day of trading Thursday.

Asian shares were mostly higher on optimism about a U.S.-China trade deal as regional markets opened the new year's first day of trading Thursday.

Asian shares were mostly lower Wednesday after Wall Street logged fresh record highs as investor optimism faded  about an interim U.S.-China trade deal announced last week.