Asian stocks started the week on an upbeat note, with Japan's Nikkei 225 leading the region in a broad-based advance after the yen fell sharply against the U.S. dollar, spurring buying in exporter-related shares.
In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 index surged 265.40 points, or 1.59 percent, to finish at 17,009.55 while Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index jumped 313.24 points, or 1.65 percent, to 19,266.74.
The weaker yen -- which helps inflate exporters' overseas earnings -- encouraged investors to buy up exporters. Sony Corp was up 2.50 percent, and Ricoh Co. rose 3.61 percent, while Matsushita Electric Co. gained 1.28 percent.
Elsewhere:
BANGKOK: Thai shares closed down 0.3 percent at 669.14 in lackluster trade amid political concerns and few fresh positive leads.
MUMBAI: Indian shares bounced back, taking cues from strong Asian markets and helped by bargain buying in technology and cement counters. The Sensex rose 1.7 percent, or 214.59 points, to 12,644.99. On the rival National Stock Exchange, the 50-stock S&P CNX Nifty rose 70.35 points, or 2 percent, to 3678.90.
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's main stock index added 0.8 percent, on support from local funds in select blue chips and government-linked companies. The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index close 10.02 points higher at 1,192.22 points.
MANILA: Philippine shares declined as the market consolidated after last week's volatility. The benchmark 30-company Philippine Stock Exchange Index dropped 20.87 points, or 0.7 percent, at 3,041.38.
SEOUL: South Korean shares rose for a third session on demand for bank and shipbuilder stocks. The Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 15.51 points, or 1.1 percent, to 1,443.39.
SINGAPORE: Singapore's benchmark Straits Times Index rose as investors hunted for bargains following losses last week. The STI surged 44.64 points, or 1.5 percent, to close at 3,113.39.
TAIPEI: Taiwanese shares rose slightly, led by stocks with large China exposure amid optimism about easing a ban on direct air links. The Weighted Price Index of the Taiwan Stock Exchange rose 17.66 points, or 0.2 percent, to close at 7,737.46.
WELLINGTON: New Zealand stocks edged higher in quiet trading as investors sought out growth and defensive plays amid heightened risk aversion in global equities markets, and brokers expect the index to mirror offshore moves in coming sessions. The benchmark NZX-50 rose 13 points, or 0.3 percent, to 4,050.31.
SYDNEY: Australian shares advanced 0.4 percent, led by heavy buying among Australia's regional banks after the Bank of Queensland launched a 2.46 billion Australian dollar takeover bid for rival Bendigo Bank. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index added 23.4 points to 5,859.7.
With files from wire services
