Shares in Asia-Pacific rose on Wednesday, with multiple major markets in Asia remaining closed for the Lunar New Year holidays.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 thundered ahead 455.12 points, or 1.7%, to 27,533.60.
The Japanese yen traded at 114.76 per U.S. dollar, stronger than levels above 115.2 seen against the greenback earlier this week.
In Australia, the ASX 200 gained 81.65 points, or 1.2%, to 7,087.69.
Those gains came after Reserve Bank of Australia Governor Philip Lowe reiterated in a speech Wednesday that the central bank’s recent decision to end its bond purchase program "does not mean that an increase in the cash rate is imminent."
Lowe’s comments came as investors around the globe have been grappling with the prospect of major central banks tightening monetary policy after almost two years of unprecedented stimulus.
The Australian dollar changed hands at $0.7134 following its rise from levels below $0.702 earlier in the trading week.
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 leaped 230.7 points, or 1.9%, to 12,289.64.
In other markets
Markets in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Korea, Singapore and Taiwan were shuttered for holiday.
