Gains in export-related shares helped power Asian markets to a stronger finish Thursday, with Samsung Electronics Co. and Honda Motor Co. advancing after upbeat U.S. economic growth data eased concerns over the economic health of Asia's largest export market.
Japan's Nikkei 225 Average rose 198.13 points, or 1.23 percent, to close at 16,274.33 while Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index rose 179.55 points, or 0.96 percent, to 18,960.48.
Gainers included Nippon Steel, which rose 2.77 percent, and Mizuho Trust Banking, which rose 1.87 percent.
Elsewhere:
BANGKOK: Thai shares rose 0.5 percent, led by buying in energy clue chips amid rising global oil prices. The Stock Exchange of Thailand's benchmark SET Index gained 3.3 points to close at 739.06.
JAKARTA: Indonesian shares rose 1.3 percent on gains in telecommunication and automotive blue chips. The Jakarta Stock Exchange Composite index closed 5.56 points higher to end at 1,718.96.
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian stocks closed higher on strong foreign buying in blue chips. The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index surged 16.06 points to 1,080.66, its best level since 1997.
MANILA: Philippine shares advanced after a three-day slide, helped by a recovery on Wall Street. The benchmark 30-company Philippine Stock Exchange Index rose 42.90 points, or 1.6 percent, at 2,788.46.
MUMBAI: Indian shares ended higher, cheered by robust growth in the Indian economy and led by technology shares, with dealers predicting market stability in the short term. The Bombay Stock Exchange's benchmark 30-stock Sensex rose 79.58 points, or 0.6 percent, to close at 13,696.31.
SEOUL: South Korean shares rose on gains in heavyweight technology and brokerage shares. The Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 9.66 points, or 0.7 percent, to 1,432.21.
SHANGHAI: Chinese stocks surged to a new five-year high as market heavyweight Baoshan Iron & Steel led gains in the steel sector on news it might ally with other international steel makers. The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index gained 2.2 percent at 2,099.29, its highest closing level since July 25, 2001, when it closed at 2,112.25.
SINGAPORE: Singapore's shares tracked overnight gains in Wall Street to end higher, and traders said the uptrend is expected to last at least till year-end. The Straits Times Index rose 12.17 points, or 0.4 percent, to close at 2,838.53.
TAIPEI: Taiwanese shares rose to a fresh six-year high, led by technology heavyweights. The Weighted Price Index of the Taiwan Stock Exchange ended 1.3 percent higher at 7,567.72.
WELLINGTON: New Zealand's stocks rose on thin volume, supported by gains in Telecom Corp., though brokers said the market appeared to be suffering from pre-Christmas lethargy. The benchmark NZX-50 index was up 22.5 points, or 0.6 percent, at 3,863.71
SYDNEY: Australian shares rose, helped by solid gains on Wall Street following stronger-than-expected U.S. growth figures. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 rose 29.5 points, or 0.5 percent, to 5,482.1, within a whisker of its record high at 5,496.3.
With files from wire services
