Stocks in Asia mostly advanced on the first trading day of November amid renewed concerns over the potential for a long-term trade deal between China and the U.S.

Mainland Chinese stocks rose by the close The Shanghai composite advanced 0.99% to about 2,958.20 and the Shenzhen component gained 1.73% to 9,802.33. The Shenzhen composite also added 1.288% to approximately 1,637.00.

A private survey of factory activity in China showed manufacturing activity in the country expanded more than expected in October. The Caixin/Markit Purchasing Managers's Index (PMI) for the manufacturing sector came in at 51.7, above expectations of 51.0 by analysts in a Reuters poll. The 50 level in PMI readings separates expansion from contraction.

A day before, official data showed manufacturing activity in China shrank for the sixth straight month in October. The official PMI survey typically polls a large proportion of big businesses and state-owned enterprises. The Caixin indicator features a bigger mix of small- and medium-sized companies.

In Hong Kong the Hang Seng index rose 0.57%, as of its final hour of trading, as shares of ESR Cayman jumped in the company's public debut on Friday. The shares had surged 7% in the morning.

Meanwhile, South Korea's Kospi advanced 0.8% to close at 2,100.20. The S&P/ASX 200 in Australia recovered from an earlier slip finish its trading day fractionally higher at 6,669.10.

Japan's Nikkei 225 lagged as it slipped 0.33% to close at 22,850.77, while the Topix index ended the trading day largely flat at 1,666.50. Shares of gaming firm Nintendo surged 7.46%, after the company announced on Thursday a second-quarter profit that exceeded expectations.

Overall, the MSCI Asia ex-Japan index was 0.41% higher.