Hong Kong stocks rebounded strongly Thursday to lead gains in Asia, lifted by earnings from fashion retailer Esprit Holdings and oil major Cnooc.
Japanese shares gained as a weaker yen helped exporters such as Sony Corp. and Canon Inc.
In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 index added 140.99 points, or 0.9 percent, to reach 16,153.82 while in Hong Kong, the blue chip Hang Seng Index rose 463.94 points, or 2.02 percent, to 23,484.54.
Technology shares climbed on a weaker yen, which helps inflate overseas earnings and makes exports less expensive. Sony Corp. rose 1.15 percent to 5,290 yen (US$46; euro33.75). Nikon Corp. added 2.31 percent to 3,550 yen (US$30.87; euro22.65).
Oil and trading company shares also advanced, with Showa Shell Sekiyu K.K. climbing 5.64 percent to 1,368 yen (US$11.90; euro8.73) and Sumitomo Corp. gaining 1.87 percent to 1,908 yen (US$16.59; euro12.17).
ELSEWHERE:
SEOUL: South Korea's Kospi climbed 0.9% to 1,841.70.
SHANGHAI: China's Shanghai Composite rose 0.8% to 5,150.13. Among gainers in Shanghai, shares of Cosco Shipping Co. added 4.8% and of Ping An Insurance Co. advanced 1.8%.
TAIPEI: Taiwan's Weighted index added 1.5% to 8,771.21.
WELLINGTON: New Zealand's NZX 50 index added 0.6% to 4,107.60.
SYDNEY: Australia's S&P/ASX 200 gained 0.6% to 6,135.
with files from other wire services
