Talk of a possible easing in U.S. interest rates propelled Asian stock markets Thursday, with Hong Kong leading the region on gains in property and China stocks while Japan's automotive and consumer-electronic shares advanced on data showing industrial output surged in October.
Tokyo's Nikkei Stock Average of 225 companies climbed 2.4 percent, or 359.96 points, to 15,513.74. The Topix index was up 2.6 percent, or 38.83 points, to 1,514.47.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index ended 4.1 percent higher, rising 1,111.31 points to 28,482.54. The China Enterprises Index, or shares of mainland-incorporated companies listed in Hong Kong, added 4 percent, or 651 points, to 17,014.13.
Telecoms were in focus, with China Unicom rising 8.5 percent while China Mobile added 4.2 percent.
Shares of China Life rocketed 6.3 percent after its chairman, Yang Chao, told the Financial Times on that the company plans to buy a strategic stake in a large European or North American insurer.
Shares of Toyota Corp. added 3.2 percent while Honda Motor Corp. advanced 3.6 percent.
Among the resource sector, BHP Billiton added 1.7 percent, Rio Tinto was up 3.2 percent and Inpex Holdings fell 1.8 percent.
Banks were performing -- Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group soared 6.1 percent, Sumitomo Mitsui rose 5.6 percent and Macquarie Group climbed 4.2 percent.
Nintendo Co. led a broad advance among consumer electronic shares, rising more than 5 percent, while NEC Corp. climbed 5.5 percent after saying it would consolidate its chip-making facilities in Japan. Shares of Samsung Electronics added 3.9 percent.
ELSEWHERE:
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's KLSE rose 0.1 percent.
SEOUL: South Korea's Kospi index added 2.3 percent.
SINGAPORE: The Straits Times Index firmed up 2.9 percent.
TAIPEI: Taiwan's Weighted Price Index was up 2.1 percent.
SYDNEY: Australia's S&P/ASX 200 ended 1.2 percent higher.
with files from other wire services
