Japanese shares ended at their highest level in almost seven years as retailer Seven & I Holdings and other domestic-focused shares advanced after data showed the economy expanded for the eighth consecutive quarter.
In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 index rose 144.59 points, or 0.81 percent, to finish at 17,897.23 points while Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index rose 328.51 points, or 1.6 percent, to 20,538.42.
Investors were heartened by government data showing that gross domestic product expanded at an annual pace of 4.8 percent in the October-December period, better than the 3.9 percent forecast by economists.
Traders bought retail issues as the report showed healthier consumption.
Seven & I Holdings Co., Japan's biggest retailer, surged 4.75 percent to 3,750 yen (US$31.25) and Internet services company Softbank Corp. jumped 3.53 percent to 2,930 yen (US$24.42).
Autos and banking stocks also gained. Toyota Motor Corp. added 0.37 percent to 8,200 yen (US$68.33) and Chiba Bank Ltd. climbed 0.87 percent to 1,162 yen (US$9.68).
Elsewhere:
BANGKOK: Thailand's shares ended lower as investors took profit after recent gains. The Stock Exchange of Thailand's SET index lost 0.6 percent to finish at 693.86 points.
JAKARTA: Indonesian shares jumped 39.42 points, or 2.3 percent, to 1,790.41 in moderate volume, as market participants responded to favorable overnight Wall Street and regional market movements amid lack of domestic cues that will likely continue tomorrow, traders said.
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian shares rose, boosted by a buying frenzy led by foreign funds. The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index rose 1 percent to 1,258.63 points.
MANILA: Philippine shares surged for a second day to a new 10-year high on the possibility that the California Public Employees' Retirement System may raise the country's ranking on its list of acceptable investment markets. The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange Index surged 78.43 points, or 2.4 percent, to 3,379.37.
MUMBAI: Indian shares ended sharply higher after four consecutive sessions of losses, tracking strong global markets. The Bombay Stock Exchange's 30-stock Sensitive Index, or Sensex, closed up 2.5 percent, or 345.65 points, at 14,355.55.
SEOUL: South Korean shares rose, led by gains in memory chip manufacturers. The Korea Composite Stock Price Index, or Kospi, rose 7.53 points, or 0.5 percent, to 1,443.63.
SHANGHAI: Chinese shares rose for the fourth straight session on optimism over post-holiday market performance, easing concerns over imminent interest rate hike. The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index leapt 3 percent at 2,993.01. The Shenzhen Composite Index surged 3.3 percent to 750.61.
SINGAPORE: Singapore's shares ended at new record high, but traders said the index may dip Friday as investors lock in their profits ahead of the Chinese New Year holiday. The benchmark Straits Times Index leapt 70.28 points, or 2.2 percent to 3252.49.
TAIPEI: Financial markets in Taiwan were closed for Chinese New Year until reopen Feb. 26.
WELLINGTON: New Zealand stocks were modestly higher, propped up by strength in heavyweight Telecom as investors' reaction to the latest earnings season remained subdued. The benchmark NZX-50 index rose 11.4 points, or 0.3 percent, to 4,192.67.
SYDNEY: Australian stocks reached record highs as positive corporate profit news continued to buoy confidence. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index climbed 32.3 points, or 0.54 percent, to a new closing record of 5,992.8.
With files from wire services
