Asian shares have mostly gained after China’s central bank released plans for supporting the stock market through share repurchases by companies and major shareholders. Beijing also reported that the Chinese economy slowed further in the last quarter,

China’s 200 million-strong army of retail investors was supposed to help the market turn a corner. Instead, it has become a source of weakness.

Assurances from government officials on plans to strengthen the private sector offset a lack of specifics about economic stimulus.

Shares mostly advanced in Asia on Thursday after U.S. stocks rose following better-than-expected profit reports from Morgan Stanley, United Airlines and other big companies. Chinese markets fell back after officials in Beijing announced the government was expanding financing for housing projects to try to turn around a slump in the