Major Asian indexes closed with significant gains on Tuesday following the stronger lead from Wall Street after U.S. lawmakers reached a deal to end a government shutdown. Investors also digested the Bank of Japan's decision to keep monetary policy steady.
The Nikkei 225 average in Japan jumped 307.82 points, or 1.3%, to 24,124.15, after touching its highest levels in more than 26 years earlier in the day.
The Hang Seng Index in Hong Kong rocketed 537.29 points, or 1.7%, to 32,930.70
In Japan, automakers recorded gains in the session: Toyota closed up 0.8%, Honda jumped 1.8% and Mitsubishi Motors tacked on 2.4%. Technology names were also mostly higher, with SoftBank Group advancing 2% and Sony rising 2.9%
The Bank of Japan on Tuesday held monetary policy steady following a two-day meeting — a move that was widely expected.
The U.S. dollar edged up against the yen on Tuesday afternoon. The greenback rose to trade at 111.15 as BOJ Governor Haruhiko Kuroda gave his post-meeting briefing. Kuroda appeared to talk down the possibility of a change in policy, with Reuters quoting the central banker as saying the economy was not in a situation for the BOJ to consider exiting its ultra-easy policy
The dollar had earlier fallen as low as 110.56 after the central bank's initial statement was released.
The central bank's move to slightly trim its purchases of Japanese government bonds earlier this month led to some speculation about potential tightening — although the move away from ultra-easy policy is seen as some ways away by some in the market
In Hong Kong, financials, which are heavily-weighted constituents on the index, were mostly in positive territory: HSBC rose 0.7%, insurer AIA advanced 1.1% and China Construction Bank was up 4.6% ahead of the market close. Casino stocks traded significantly higher too. Galaxy Entertainment rose 1.8% and Sands China was higher by 1.3%
In Korea, shares of LG Display closed up 5.9% after the company reported fourth-quarter earnings fell 95% from a year ago, as other tech names traded mostly higher. That move higher came as the company announced it would manufacture plastic OLED panels at a new line later this year.
LG Electronics, meanwhile, finished the session higher by 0.5% after earlier falling more than 2% following news President Donald Trump had approved tariffs on certain washing machines. Samsung Electronics, which also produces washing machines, was higher by 1.9%.
The South Korean government said it would raise the matter to the World Trade Organization, characterizing the U.S. move as "excessive."
Australian markets moved up, with Santos gaining 1.2% in the morning. The financials sector, which had broadly declined in the last session, rose 0.8% on Tuesday.
The Australian dollar fell back below the $0.80 U.S. mark to trade at $0.7982 after trading as high as $0.8029 earlier.
In other markets
In Shanghai, the CSI 300 improved 46.01 points, or 1.1%, to 4,382.61
The Kospi in Korea recovered 34.49 points, or 1.4%, to 2,536.60
In Taiwan, the Taiex Index gained 21.65 points, or 0.2%, to 11,253.11
In Singapore, the Straits Times Index added 22.65 points, or 0.6%, to 3,592.08
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 subtracted 27.73 points, or 0.3%, to 8,307.63
In Australia, the ASX 200 progressed 45.05 points, or 0.8%, to 6,036.96
