Japan and other Asian markets closed broadly higher on Friday, with tech issues taking their lead from a solid rise on Wall Street.
Tokyo's Nikkei 225 share average closed back above the 9000 level, up 2.02 percent to 9104.06. That follows its slight fall of 0.1 percent on Thursday.
The broader Topix index was up 1.71 percent at 903.06.
Outside of Japan, Singapore showed one of the region's best gains, up about 1.5 percent. Markets in South Korea and Hong Kong also rose.
Australia put on 0.68 percent and New Zealand was ahead 0.33 percent. But Taiwan ended just in the red.
The moves in Asia followed a strong performance for U.S. equities Thursday, with the Dow Jones industrial average rising 0.75 percent and the Nasdaq composite putting on almost 2 percent. (Full story)
The dollar was firmer against the yen in late Tokyo trade, at 119.68 yen. The euro is trading at $1.1427.
In Tokyo, Sony, Canon, Matsushita Electric Industrial and other big exporters were all higher on renewed enthusiasm about growth prospects in the United States, Japan's biggest export market.
Sony put on 2.14 percent to 3340 yen and Matsushita was up 4.3 percent to 1170 yen. Toshiba jumped more than 6 percent to 394 yen and Fujitsu surged 7.4 percent to 462 yen.
Automaker Nissan continued to make ground, up 4 percent to 1131 yen. That is within sight of the 13-year high of 1142 yen it reached earlier this month.
Honda was up 2 percent to 4560 yen, but Toyota fell 3 percent to 2970 yen.
Big banks were mixed, with gains for Mizuho, MTFG and UFJ, but a slight fall for SMFG.
The market's biggest stock, mobile phone company NTT DoCoMo, rose 1.16 percent to 262,000 yen.
Data released on Friday showed Japan's industrial production grew 2.5 percent in May from a month earlier. But this rise was seen as a reaction to a heavy fall in April. (Full story)
Other data showed a further fall in household spending, while the nation's jobless rate in May was 5.4 percent, unchanged from April and just below a record high of 5.5 percent in January.
In Seoul, the Kospi ended 0.23 percent higher to 677.28. Big exporter Hyundai Motor was up 2 percent to 32,250 won but market heavyweight Samsung Electronics slipped 1 percent to 361,000 won.
Leading bank Shinhan was down 0.4 percent to 12,300 won.
In Australia, media group News Corp recovered some of Thursday's fall. It was up 1.9 percent to A$11.28. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 was 0.68 percent higher at 3048.8.
Telstra showed some life, up about 1 percent to A$4.44. Qantas and resources giant BHP Billiton were also higher, but banking leader NAB was flat at A$33.70.
In Singapore, the Straits Times index is up 1.5 percent to 1480.07 near the close.
Singapore Airlines is leading the way with a gain of 2 percent to S$10.40. SingTel is up 0.65 percent and DBS Bank is flat.
Taiwan's Taiex slipped 0.33 percent to 4877.90. Market leader TSMC was flat at T$57.00. Rival chip foundry UMC fell 1.3 percent and Formosa Plastic was 0.6 percent higher.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng index ended 0.53 percent higher at 9657.21. HSBC was unchanged at HK$93.25.
PCCW was 0.5 percent higher at HK$4.95 and telco China Mobile put on 1.9 percent to HK$18.55.
New Zealand's Top 50 finished 0.33 percent higher to 2172.47. Telecom NZ was up slightly at NZ$5.15. No. 2 stock Carter Holt Harvey rose 1.17 percent to NZ$1.73.
Tokyo's Nikkei 225 share average closed back above the 9000 level, up 2.02 percent to 9104.06. That follows its slight fall of 0.1 percent on Thursday.
The broader Topix index was up 1.71 percent at 903.06.
Outside of Japan, Singapore showed one of the region's best gains, up about 1.5 percent. Markets in South Korea and Hong Kong also rose.
Australia put on 0.68 percent and New Zealand was ahead 0.33 percent. But Taiwan ended just in the red.
The moves in Asia followed a strong performance for U.S. equities Thursday, with the Dow Jones industrial average rising 0.75 percent and the Nasdaq composite putting on almost 2 percent. (Full story)
The dollar was firmer against the yen in late Tokyo trade, at 119.68 yen. The euro is trading at $1.1427.
In Tokyo, Sony, Canon, Matsushita Electric Industrial and other big exporters were all higher on renewed enthusiasm about growth prospects in the United States, Japan's biggest export market.
Sony put on 2.14 percent to 3340 yen and Matsushita was up 4.3 percent to 1170 yen. Toshiba jumped more than 6 percent to 394 yen and Fujitsu surged 7.4 percent to 462 yen.
Automaker Nissan continued to make ground, up 4 percent to 1131 yen. That is within sight of the 13-year high of 1142 yen it reached earlier this month.
Honda was up 2 percent to 4560 yen, but Toyota fell 3 percent to 2970 yen.
Big banks were mixed, with gains for Mizuho, MTFG and UFJ, but a slight fall for SMFG.
The market's biggest stock, mobile phone company NTT DoCoMo, rose 1.16 percent to 262,000 yen.
Data released on Friday showed Japan's industrial production grew 2.5 percent in May from a month earlier. But this rise was seen as a reaction to a heavy fall in April. (Full story)
Other data showed a further fall in household spending, while the nation's jobless rate in May was 5.4 percent, unchanged from April and just below a record high of 5.5 percent in January.
In Seoul, the Kospi ended 0.23 percent higher to 677.28. Big exporter Hyundai Motor was up 2 percent to 32,250 won but market heavyweight Samsung Electronics slipped 1 percent to 361,000 won.
Leading bank Shinhan was down 0.4 percent to 12,300 won.
In Australia, media group News Corp recovered some of Thursday's fall. It was up 1.9 percent to A$11.28. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 was 0.68 percent higher at 3048.8.
Telstra showed some life, up about 1 percent to A$4.44. Qantas and resources giant BHP Billiton were also higher, but banking leader NAB was flat at A$33.70.
In Singapore, the Straits Times index is up 1.5 percent to 1480.07 near the close.
Singapore Airlines is leading the way with a gain of 2 percent to S$10.40. SingTel is up 0.65 percent and DBS Bank is flat.
Taiwan's Taiex slipped 0.33 percent to 4877.90. Market leader TSMC was flat at T$57.00. Rival chip foundry UMC fell 1.3 percent and Formosa Plastic was 0.6 percent higher.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng index ended 0.53 percent higher at 9657.21. HSBC was unchanged at HK$93.25.
PCCW was 0.5 percent higher at HK$4.95 and telco China Mobile put on 1.9 percent to HK$18.55.
New Zealand's Top 50 finished 0.33 percent higher to 2172.47. Telecom NZ was up slightly at NZ$5.15. No. 2 stock Carter Holt Harvey rose 1.17 percent to NZ$1.73.
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