Asia markets traded mostly higher Thursday, tracking gains in the U.S. where the Dow Jones industrial average closed above 21,000 and the dollar rose amid growing expectations for an interest rate hike in March
The Nikkei 225 Index popped 171.26 points, or 0.9%, to 19,564.80,
The Hang Seng Index in Hong Kong faded 48.42 points, or 0.2%, to 23,728.07
Most exporters advanced, boosted by a relatively weaker yen. Honda shares rose 0.6%. Sony was up 1.5% and Canon gained 1.3%. Toyota shares gave up early gains to close nearly flat.
The yen traded at 114.16 to the U.S. dollar late Thursday afternoon local time, weakening from levels below 112.0 reached earlier this week.
Toshiba shares rose 2.7%, following reports that Taiwanese manufacturer Foxconn was planning to bid for the Japanese conglomerate's chip business. Last year, Foxconn acquired Japanese electronics company Sharp.
Australian markets prospered, with the heavily-weighted financial sector gaining 1.3%
Shares of ANZ rose 1%, Commonwealth Bank of Australia was up 1.3%, Westpac added 1%, and the National Australia Bank gained 1.1%.
The Australian dollar fell 0.25% to $0.7655 U.S. Thursday afternoon.
Banking stocks around the region advanced, with Japan's Mitsubishi UFJ climbing 2% and Mizuho gaining 1.3%, while South Korea's DGB Financial rose 2.4%
In other markets
In Shanghai, the CSI 300 dropped 23.34 points, or 0.7%, to 3,435.10
In Taiwan, the Taiex recovered 17.02 points, or 0.2%, to 9,691.80
The Kospi Index in Korea returned to business after a Wednesday holiday to gain 11.01 points, or 0.5%, to 2,102.65
In Singapore, the Straits Times Index added 13.71 points, or 0.4%, to 3,136.48
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 regained 27.05 points, or 0.4%, to 7,175.83
In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 restored 71.79 points, or 1.3%, to 5,776.59
