Asian stocks rebounded Wednesday, led higher by Japan's Nikkei Average after surprisingly strong industrial-output data spurred buying in blue chips such as Toyota Motor and Bridgestone Corp.
Japan's Nikkei 225 Average rose 220.94 points, or 1.39 percent, to 16,076.20 points while Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index gained 141.40 points, or 0.76 percent, to 18,780.93.
In Japan, stocks were pushed up by real estate and construction shares, boosted by a 1.6 percent gain in industrial production in October. Economists had predicted a 0.4 percent decline.
Construction company Hazama Corp. advanced 2.53 percent. Oil shares also rose on higher crude oil prices. Nippon Oil Corp. gained 2.26 percent.
Elsewhere:
BANGKOK: Thai shares rose 1.16 percent, tracking rebounds in regional markets. The Stock Exchange of Thailand's benchmark SET Index gained 8.43 points to close at 735.76.
JAKARTA: Indonesian shares rose on hopes of benign inflation this month and a cut in benchmark interest rate by December. The Jakarta Stock Exchange Composite index closed 22,31 points or 1.3 percent to end at 1,713.397.
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's key stock index rose as investors focused on plantation stocks involved in a government-led merger. The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index climbed 0.7 percent to 1,064.60 points.
MANILA: Philippine shares plummeted on disappointing third-quarter gross domestic product figures. The benchmark 30-company Philippine Stock Exchange Index lost 33.58 points, or 1.2 percent, at 2,745.56.
MUMBAI: Indian shares ended flat as gains in cigarette maker ITC and cement companies were offset by a slide in oil marketing firms, even as dealers warned of a possible correction. The Bombay Stock Exchange's benchmark 30-stock Sensex rose 14.78 points, or 0.1 percent, to close at 13,616.73.
SEOUL: South Korean shares advanced on positive economic news with construction stocks leading the gain. The Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 11.08 points, or 0.8 percent, to 1,422.55.
SHANGHAI: Chinese stocks rose as a rebound in Hong Kong shares and a surge in the Chinese currency's value against the U.S. dollar turned the market around after three days of losses. The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index gained 0.8 percent to 2,054.09. The Shenzhen Composite Index rose 1.6 percent to 483.62.
TAIPEI: Taiwan shares rose slightly Wednesday in line with gains across Asian markets. The Weighted Price Index of the Taiwan Stock Exchange gained 29.25 points, or 0.4 percent, to 7,474.19.
WELLINGTON: New Zealand stocks were a touch stronger on buying of market heavyweight Telecom Corp. The benchmark NZX-50 index was up 8.6 points, or 0.2 percent, to 3,841.19.
SYDNEY: Stronger than expected industrial production data from Japan and subsequent gains in the Japanese stock market triggered a sharp rise in Australian shares. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index rose 68.3 points -- 1.3 percent -- to 5,352.6 on average volume. The All Ordinaries also gained 64.7 points to 5,432.5.
With files from wire services
