Japanese shares took gains into a third session and led the region broadly higher, with Sony Corp. fronting a rally in exporters after a brokerage upgrade.
The benchmark Nikkei 225 index rose 101.60 points, or 0.7 percent, to 14,440.14, its best finish since Jan. 9.
Sony Corp. advanced 4.5 percent after Goldman Sachs raised its rating to ''buy'' from ''neutral.'' The brokerage says its games business is on the track to turn profitable and its digital camera business is set to benefit from emerging-market demand.
Japanese bank shares also fared well after a Barron's article said Japanese banks have upside potential, with much of the sector's bad news priced in during the Topix bank subindex's 28 percent decline last year. Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group added 4.7 percent, and Mizuho Financial Group gained 6.7 percent.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index rose 1.2 per cent to 24,831.36, driven by late gains in China-related equities. It it down 11 per cent so far this year.
China's Shanghai Composite finished 0.8% up at 3,459.04.
Elsewhere:
Australia's S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.1% to 5,662.30, coming off the day's low at 5,595.50.
South Korea's Kospi declined 0.2% to 1,847.53.
Taiwan's Weighted index added 1.2% to 8,724.47.
Singapore's Straits Times Index advanced 0.6% to 3,210.51.
New Zealand markets were closed for a holiday.
with files from other wire services
