Australia's leading index ended at a record high Wednesday, led by gains in BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto and other resource shares after industrial-metals and crude-oil prices rebounded and takeover speculation swirled.
In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 index rose for a fourth session, adding 131.19 points, or 0.74 percent, to 17,752.64 while Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index rose 77.66 points, or 0.4 percent, to 20,209.91.
Traders said players are awaiting Japan's gross domestic product data for the October-December period, due Thursday, to gauge the possibility of an interest rate increase.
Technology and steel stocks were the gainers. Tokyo Electron Ltd. surged 3.31 percent to 8,750 yen (US$72.31) and JFE Holdings Inc. added 0.28 percent to 7,180 yen (US$59.34).
Elsewhere:
BANGKOK: Thailand's shares closed at the highest level this year, as many blue chips jumped on continued fund buying. The Stock Exchange of Thailand's SET index gained 0.8 percent to finish at 697.84 points.
JAKARTA: Indonesian shares rose 23.626 points, or 1.4 percent, to 1,750.99 in moderate volume, as market participants react to positive Dow Jones index result overnight and regional markets gains to snap up technically underpriced blue chip shares, traders said.
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian shares rose in record high volume, as foreign funds continue to buy plantation, construction and government-linked heavyweights in follow-through trade. The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index added 0.9 percent to 1,245.64 points.
MANILA: Philippine shares surged to their highest level in nearly a decade, aided by overnight gains in Wall Street and easing domestic interest rates. The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange Index gained 67.03 points, or 2.03 percent, at 3,300.94, its best finish since March 4, 1997.
MUMBAI: Indian shares ended mixed, recovering from intraday lows as a sharp fall in banking shares was offset by strong gains in Oil & Natural Gas Corp. and Hindalco. The Bombay Stock Exchange's 30-stock Sensitive Index, or Sensex, closed down 0.6 percent, or 81.08 points, at 14,009.90.
SEOUL: South Korean shares rose amid hopes for eased tension on the Korean peninsula following North Korea's agreement to start dismantling its nuclear program. The Korea Composite Stock Price Index, or Kospi, jumped 17.66 points, or 1.3 percent, to 1,436.10.
SHANGHAI: Chinese shares rose on investor confidence in further post-holiday rises and funds disappointed investors to plow funds back, after Ping An Insurance's A-share initial public offering. The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index surged 2.6 percent to 2,905.09. The Shenzhen Composite Index rose 2.3 percent to 726.90.
SINGAPORE: Singapore shares rose on broad gains in blue chips, and property shares advanced following strong year-end results from developer CapitaLand. The Straits Times Index jumped 33.1 points, or 1.0 percent to 3,182.2.
TAIPEI: Taiwan shares rose on the final trading day before an 11-day Lunar New Year recess, as investors cheered a prominent opposition politician's decision to run for president. The Weighted Stock Index of the Taiwan Stock Exchange gained 72.62 points, or 0.9 percent, to 7,809.45.
WELLINGTON: New Zealand stocks ended mixed, as a stronger day for bellwether Telecom tempered losses by fellow heavyweight Fletcher Building after it posted a solid, rather than spectacular, first half result. The benchmark NZX-50 index dropped 3.5 points to 4,181.30.
SYDNEY: Australian shares rose, following positive leads from offshore markets and strong local earnings results. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 rose 23.9 points, or 0.4 percent, to 5,960.5.
With files from wire services
