Asian markets ended higher Friday, with Tokyo and Hong Kong stocks also taking home gains for the week, on optimism the turmoil in global financial markets is ebbing.
The benchmark Nikkei 225 index in Tokyo jumped 2.1 per cent to 14,049.3, closing above 14,000 for the first time in two months. Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose 1.9 per cent to 26,241.0.
Shares in major printer and copier maker Canon Inc. rose 3.1 per cent after the company announced its plan to invest US$600 million to boost laser printer cartridge production in the United States.
Sony Corp. rose 2.9 per cent after the Nikkei Business Daily reported that the consumer electronics company will likely post a sharp increase in group operating profit this fiscal year on brisk demand for digital cameras and other electronics.
Elsewhere:
Taiwan's Weighted index gained 0.5% to 8,963.63.
Singapore's Straits Times index added 2.5% to 3,226.34 by late afternoon.
Australia's S&P/ASX 200 index rose 2.1% to 5,700.40.
South Korea's Kospi advanced 1.3% to 1,848.27.
New Zealand's NZX 50 index rose 0.9% to 3,661.34.
with files from other wire services
