SINGAPORE - Stocks pushed higher in Asian trading on Thursday as optimism grew about a deal to end the Iran conflict, ​while traders digested a buffet of economic data and critical earnings reports.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose 0.9 percent, putting the benchmark on ‌track for a third consecutive day of gains, while Japan's Nikkei rose 2.2 percent to a fresh record. S&P 500 e-mini futures were 0.2 percent higher.

"We remain constructive overall" on emerging market stocks as "underlying profit growth is likely to be strong", analysts from Goldman Sachs wrote in a research report.

Earnings in the region will be "driven by AI-related demand, which should be relatively insulated from the direct impacts of ​the oil shock".

On Wednesday, the S&P 500 rose 0.8 percent and the Nasdaq Composite gained 1.6 percent, as strong quarterly earnings from Bank of America and Morgan Stanley ​lifted the indexes to record highs. With around 6 percent of companies reporting earnings for the quarter, 84 percent have beaten analysts' expectations.

"As we ⁠move into the heart of earnings season, the focus is shifting back toward fundamentals, with a more idiosyncratic, stock-driven environment beginning to take hold," said Scott ​Rubner, head of equity and equity derivatives strategy at Citadel Securities in New York. "This reset provides a more constructive entry point in equities, particularly across large-cap quality ​growth."

In oil markets, Brent crude rose 0.3 percent to $95.23 a barrel. A refinery fire in Australia raised supply concerns.

The US dollar ​index, which measures the greenback's strength against a basket of six currencies, was flat at 98.02 as geopolitical worries eased and traders brought forward expectations of monetary policy easing from ‌the Federal ⁠Reserve.

On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump threatened to fire Fed Chair Jerome Powell from his separate seat on the US central bank's Board of Governors if Powell does not vacate that post as well when his term as Fed chief ends on May 15, intensifying a complicated standoff that has upended the Fed's usually smooth transition of power and renewing concerns about its independence.

The euro edged up to within sight of its highest level since the conflict began at $1.1809, extending its recent ​winning streak into a ninth consecutive day.

"The solid start to the year on the back of strong export performance suggests ​the direct impact of the Middle East conflict remains contained for now," said Junyu Tan, regional economist for North ​Asia at Coface in ⁠Hong Kong. "The export engine could still be constrained by weaker global demand if the conflict persists."

Australian shares were down 0.2 percent and the Aussie dollar was little changed after data showed on Thursday that Australian employment rose broadly in line with expectations ⁠in March ​as firms hired more full-time workers, while the jobless rate held steady at 4.3 percent.

"The latest data ​will reinforce the RBA’s assessment that upside risks to inflation are greater than downside risks to the labour market," analysts from Capital Economics wrote in a research report, referring to the Reserve Bank of ​Australia.

Gold clawed back 0.6 percent to $4,819.55, while in cryptocurrencies, bitcoin was down 0.2 percent at $74,718.47 as ether slipped 0.4 percent to $2,355.27.