Asian stocks extended record-setting gains on Friday, with Australian markets rising to a record high as BHP Billiton and other miners climbed on higher metals prices and takeover speculation.
In Tokyo, markets were closed Thursday and Friday for Japan's Golden Week public holidays. Markets reopen on Monday, May 7. In Hong Kong, the blue chip Hang Seng Index advanced 159.50 points, or 0.8 percent, to 20,841.08.
Henderson Land led gains among property stocks after a favorable brokerage note, which cited the positive benefits from the developer's China property sales. Shares of Henderson Land rose 6.8%, becoming the city's third-largest property company by market capitalization.
Gainers among property stocks also included Cheung Kong Holding, shares of which rose 2.9%.
Also in Hong Kong, Shenhua Energy Co., a Chinese coal and power distribution company that will be added to MSCI indexes from May 31, rose 3.7%. Among shares that will be dropped from the index, casual-wear retailer Texwinca Holdings fell 2.6%.
Elsewere:
BANGKOK: Thai shares climbed 0.9 percent to 716.44 in active trade, amid gains in most Asian bourses.
JAKARTA: Indonesian shares rose to a fresh record, led by gains in car distributor Astra and heavy equipment supplier Intraco Penta. The Jakarta Stock Exchange Composite index closed 7.724 points or 0.34 percent higher to 2,033.368.
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's stock index surged to a new record high, led by strong gains in the country's largest mobile phone operator Maxis. The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index of 100 blue chips rose 1.5 percent to 1,363.40 points.
MANILA: Philippine shares advanced, lifted by blue chips expected to post solid first-quarter earnings reports. The benchmark 30-company Philippine Stock Exchange Index gained 6.95 points, or 0.2 percent, at 3,278.48, after losing 0.01 percent Thursday.
SINGAPORE: Singapore shares rose to a new record, led by a strong first quarter performance by lender DBS that boosted the shares of other blue chips. The benchmark Straits Times Index rose 35.12 points, or 1.0 percent, to 3,485.76.
TAIPEI: Taiwan shares jumped on optimism about strong quarterly earnings. The Weighted Price Index of the Taiwan Stock Exchange rose 133.11 points, or 1.7 percent, to close at 8,059.77.
WELLINGTON: New Zealand stocks were flat, with a lack of clear trends or drivers leaving large cap stocks mixed. The benchmark NZX-50 index rose 3.6 points, or 0.1 percent, to 4,206.31.
AUSTRALIA: Australian stocks topped the all-time-high set, climbing 59.3 points, 1.0 percent, to a record 6,304.9 on the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index. The All Ordinaries index also gained 59.3 points to 6,296.2, also a record close.
With files from wire services
