Japanese stocks advanced on Monday, with the benchmark Nikkei average ending higher. Sony Corp. and other exporters rose as the yen held near a one-week low against the U.S. dollar.
In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 index rose 128.35 points, or 0.75 percent, to finish at 17,292.39 while Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index rose 307.54 points, or 1.6 percent, to finish at 19,442.42.
Exporter blue chips like autos and electronics stocks advanced as the yen weakened against the dollar, a move that inflates overseas earnings and making exports less expensive.
Investors were also cheered by an upward revision in economic growth in the fourth quarter to an annual pace of 5.5 percent, the strongest growth in three years. The revision was largely due to stronger capital investment than initially calculated.
Gainers included Mazda Motor Corp., which rose 2.11 percent to 677 yen (US$5.74) and Canon Inc., which posted a 0.95 percent gain to 6,350 yen (US$53.81).
Elsewhere:
BANGKOK: Thailand's shares ended higher in extremely thin trade, led by gains in banking stocks. The Stock Exchange of Thailand's SET index gained 1.19 points, or 0.2 percent, to finish at 672.36.
JAKARTA: Indonesian shares ended up 1.7 percent at 1,794.52 points, as gains across Asia markets inspire foreign program buying in most blue chips.
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's shares rose as local funds continue to accumulate blue chips, plantation, banking stocks, dealers said. The Composite Index of 100 blue chips up 1.2 percent to 1,203.29 points.
MANILA: Philippine shares advanced for the second session as investors focused on selected stocks with positive story lines, among them port operator International Container Terminal Services Inc. The benchmark 30-company Philippine Stock Exchange Index rose 25.14 points, or 0.8 percent, at 3,124.96.
MUMBAI: India's shares climbed with the Bombay Stock Exchange's 30-stock Sensitive Index, or Sensex, rose 17.64 points, or 0.14 percent, to 12,902.63.
SEOUL: South Korean shares rose, led by blue chips stocks such as Samsung Electronics and Posco. The Korea Composite Stock Price Index, or Kospi, surged 17.75 points, or 1.3 percent, to 1,441.33.
SHANGHAI: Chinese stocks rose for the fifth straight session, with heavyweights Industrial & Commercial Bank of China and Bank of China gaining on institutional demand. The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index rose 0.6 percent at 2,954.91. The Shenzhen Composite Index rose 1.2 percent to 769.93.
SINGAPORE: Singapore's shares rose amid lackluster trading, with gains seen in property and banking stocks. The benchmark Straits Times Index surged 38.97 points, or 1.2 percent, to close at 3182.68.
TAIPEI: Taiwan shares rose, lifted by gains in selected tech heavyweights. The Weighted Price Index of the Taiwan Stock Exchange gained 60.95 points, or 0.8 percent, to close at 7,629.15.
WELLINGTON: New Zealand stocks were slightly higher, as a lack of strong drivers and some remaining investor nerves produced a session of relatively mixed trading. The benchmark NZX-50 index lifted 8.2 points, or 0.2 percent, to 4,088.13.
SYDNEY: Australian shares added one percent in light-volume trading, with big mining and retail companies posting gains. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index rose 60.8 points to end at an eight-day high of 5,891.0 points.
With files from wire services
