Asian stocks ended higher Thursday, led by export-related shares such as Sony Corp. and Hyundai Motors Co., after strong retail-sales data in the U.S. dispelled fears of a consumer slowdown and set off a dollar rebound against regional currencies.
Japan's Nikkei 225 Average rose 136.27 points, or 0.82 percent, to finish at 16,829.20 while Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index rose 201.21 points, or 1.1 percent, to 18,919.40.
Japanese stocks have advanced the last four sessions amid a retreat in the yen against the dollar, which helps Japan's exporters.
Toyota Motor Corp. rose 0.96 percent to 7,370 yen ($62.46) and Kyocera Corp., which posted a 1.12 percent to 10,860 yen ($92.03).
Other gainers included Japan's top oil seal maker NOK Corp., which rose 7.57 percent to 2,275 yen ($19.28) and Canon Electronics Inc., which climbed 3.23 percent to 5,750 yen ($48.73).
Meanwhile, Toshiba Corp. closed 0.13 percent lower at 771 yen ($6.53) after it announced the sale of its entire stake in Toshiba-EMI Ltd. to its partner, Britain's EMI Group Plc., for about $179 million.
Elsewhere:
BANGKOK: Thai shares fell 0.4 percent to 732.40 in thin trading.
JAKARTA: Indonesian shares closed higher, as a steady rupiah and gains in most Asian markets inspired bargain hunting. The Jakarta Stock Exchange Composite index closed up 14.0 points, or 0.8 percent at 1,767.802.
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's key stock index fell as foreign funds sold their holdings for a third straight day of profit-taking. The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index of 100 blue chips dipped 0.4 percent to 1,073.96 points in moderate trade.
MANILA: Philippine stocks declined for the third straight session ahead of a central bank rate-setting meeting. The benchmark 30-company Philippine Stock Exchange Index slipped 2.59 points, or 0.1 percent, at 2,833.27, after dropping 0.2 percent Wednesday.
MUMBAI: Indian shares recovered for a second day, rising sharply on gains in top private sector lender ICICI Bank and index heavyweight Oil & Natural Gas. The Bombay Stock Exchange's 30-stock Sensitive Index, or Sensex, rose 305.82 points, or 2.3 percent, at 13,487.16 points.
SEOUL: South Korean shares rose sharply, propelled by gains in technology, auto and bank stocks. The Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 35.10 points, or 2.5 percent, to 1,418.38.
SHANGHAI: Chinese stocks rose to a new high, surging past the previous peak set in 2001 amid renewed confidence in the country's markets and expectations for a stronger local currency. The Shanghai Composite Index gained 1.2 percent to close at 2,249.11, its highest closing level ever.
SINGAPORE: Singapore's shares closed higher, boosted by gains in regional markets. The Straits Times Index closed up 1.1 percent at 2,916.28 points, reversing yesterday's 0.3 percent decline.
TAIPEI: Taiwanese shares rose in a moderate rally that ended five consecutive sessions of declines. The Weighted Price Index of the Taiwan Stock Exchange rose 30.11 points, or 0.4 percent, to close at 7,480.41 on bargain-hunting.
WELLINGTON: New Zealand's shares rose to a record high, as demand for quality shares took the market to new heights. The NZSX-50 index closed up 21.85 points, or 0.55 percent, at a record 3,967.84. The market has risen 15 percent since August.
SYDNEY: Australian shares closed at a record high, helped by merger and acquisition activity including an 11.1 billion Australian dollar (US$8.73 billion; euro6.58 billion) private equity takeover of Qantas Airways. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index rose 84.9 points, or 1.6 percent, to 5,573.1 points, beating the previous record close of 5,491.6 points hit on Nov. 7.
With files from wire services
