Asian markets advanced sharply Thursday, with indexes in Sydney, Hong Kong, Singapore and India all setting new records.
In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 rose for the third straight session to finish 2.4 percent higher at 16,832.22, its highest closing level since mid-August.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index ended above the psychological 27,000-point milestone for the first time, gaining 2.4 percent to end at 27,065.15, as trading resumed after Wednesday's holiday. Among the major sub-indexes in Hong Kong, the 41-issue Hang Seng China Enterprises Index put on 2.4 percent to finish at 16,644.49, also a lifetime closing high.
Shares of Cheung Kong rose 5 percent and Sun Hung Kai Properties climbed 2 percent, on hopes a recent cut in interest rates will boost demand.
ELSEWHERE:
BANGKOK: Taiwan's Weighted index climbed 1.7 percent to 9,413.65.
SEOUL: South Korea's Kospi rose 1.4 percent to 1,945.28, as trading resumed for the first time after an extended holiday weekend.
DELHI: Sensex was well on its way to close higher for the eighth straight session, up 1.2 percent at 17,115.19.
SINGAPORE: The Straits Times index climbed to a record intraday high of 3,722.27. It was up 1.9 percent at 3,717.46 in late afternoon trading.
WELLINGTON: New Zealand's NZX 50 index ended the day unchanged at 4,275.81.
SYDNEY: Continuing a recent record run, Australia's S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.9 percent to 6,538.10.
with files from other wire services
