Most Asian markets closed higher Monday with Hong Kong's benchmark index returning above the 20,000 level, boosted by broad gains in the Japanese and Chinese bourses.
In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 index advanced 152.91 points, or 0.90 percent, to close at 17,209.92 while Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index surged 455.15 points, or 2.3 percent, to close at 20,068.56.
Japanese machine orders -- widely regarded as a leading indicator of corporate capital investment -- surged 3.8 percent in November from October.
Machinery maker Okuma Corp. rose 3.01 percent to 1,334 yen ($11.12).
Japan Airlines Corp. jumped 5.11 percent to 247 yen ($2.06) on reports that it will secure new funding for restructuring efforts.
Elsewhere:
BANGKOK: Thailand's shares closed slightly higher. The Stock Exchange of Thailand's SET index gained 10.60 points, or 1.64 percent, to end at 656.31 points.
JAKARTA: Indonesian shares finished up on bargain-hunting amid buoyant regional market sentiment and suspension of state-owned utility Perusahaan Gas Negara. The Jakarta Stock Exchange Composite index closed 52.431 points or 3.1 percent up to 1,730.475.
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian shares rose, buoyed by strong buying interest in key blue chips. The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index rose 0.5 percent to 1,125.32 points.
MANILA: Philippine shares ended slightly higher as lower domestic interest rates spurred buying of bank and consumer stocks. The benchmark Philippines Stock Exchange Index rose 26.73 points, or 0.9 percent, to 3,019.06.
MUMBAI: Indian shares scaled new peaks for the second successive session, led by Reliance Industries and Tata Steel, with dealers confident that third quarter earnings will continue to drive markets higher. The Bombay Stock Exchange's 30-stock Sensitive Index, or Sensex, jumped points, or 0.5 percent, to close at 14,129.64.
SEOUL: South Korean shares ended higher as core blue chips Samsung Electronics and Posco extended gains on their share buyback plans. The Korea Composite Stock Market Index, or Kospi, finished up 2.59 points, or 0.2 percent, at 1390.96.
SHANGHAI: Chinese shares posted their biggest one-day advance in a year-and-a-half, rebounding from a plunge on Friday amid renewed interest in financial and transport shares. The Shanghai Composite Index gained 4.7 percent to 2,794.70 points. The Shenzhen Composite Index on China's smaller exchange rose 5.3 percent to 631.35.
SINGAPORE: Singapore's shares rose, boosted by buoyant sentiment for property and other blue chips. The benchmark index closed up 26.5 points, or 0.88 percent, at 3,035.58.
TAIPEI: Taiwanese shares rose for a second day, spurred by strength in the electronics sector. The Weighted Price Index of the Taiwan Stock Exchange gained 21.79 points, or 0.3 percent, to 7,783.50.
WELLINGTON: New Zealand shares rose sharply, led by market heavyweight Telecom Corp. which closed at an eight-month high. The benchmark NZX-50 index gained 33.7 points, or 0.8 percent, to close at 4,085.61.
SYDNEY: Australian shares rose slightly, with positive momentum in most sectors despite light activity ahead of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday in the United States. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index rose 35 points, or 0.6 percent, to 5,673.8.
With files from wire services
