Asian stocks hover near two-year highs on U.S. optimism, euro steady

Asian stocks extended gains for a fifth consecutive day on Wednesday, as renewed optimism about the world's biggest economy brightened the outlook for risk assets while the euro held on to previous gains as political concerns in France ebbed. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose 0.3 percent, hovering near their highest since June 2015. Stock markets in Japan and Australia led gainers.

Asian stocks hover near two-year highs on U.S. optimism, euro steady