In Japan, the benchmark Nikkei 225 was set to rise, with the futures contract in Chicago up nearly 1%, last trading at 39,235 while its counterpart in Osaka is up 0.59%, last trading at 39,170 against the index's close of 38,902.50.

The project in Osaka is among ESR’s four data centers under development in Japan to capitalize on the AI boom.

Hong Kong-based real estate manager ESR Group on Thursday said it was teaming up with U.S.-based data centre provider CloudHQ to jointly develop and operate a $2 billion data centre campus in Japan. The campus,

Asia-Pacific markets were set to open higher Monday, ahead of Donald Trump's inauguration with investors awaiting greater clarity on the policies of the incoming U.S. administration. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.2% at the open.

China is slated to report its industrial output and retail sales data for December, as well as fourth quarter GDP.

After a six-year break, Hong Kong Airlines has resumed nonstop services between Hong Kong and Australia's Gold Coast.

Meanwhile, the city retains its lead in terms of vertical urbanism on account of its large number of tall buildings and its high degree of urban consolidation. With 550 buildings of more than 150m in height, Hong Kong has more tall buildings than any other city in the world.

Manager of Shari Shari, Hong Kong’s leading shaved ice brand, Shingo Take has made kakigori as a key player in the city’s dessert game.

Hong Kong-based real estate manager ESR Group on Thursday said it was teaming up with U.S.-based data centre provider CloudHQ to jointly develop and operate a $2 billion data centre campus in Japan.

But retail insiders say they are hopeful resumption of multiple-entry visas for Shenzhen residents will mitigate local spending decline