Asian shares held near eight-week highs on Thursday as investors bet on the likely size and scope of a bond-buying program the European Central Bank is poised to unveil later in the day as it attempts to revive the flagging euro zone economy. The euro was quieter ahead of the ECB decision after the previous day’s wide ranges, while the Canadian dollar stole the spotlight after plunging to a nearly six-year low following the Bank of Canada’s surprise move to slash its overnight rate to help cushion the economy from recently plunging oil prices.