Asian stocks closed sharply higher on Friday, extending the latest rally after a strong overnight performance by Wall Street was fueled by a fall in US jobless claims.
This inspired investors here who are gearing-up for a traditional end of year rally, resulting in Sydney, Singapore, Jakarta and Wellington all striking record closing highs.
Shanghai rose 0.62 percent with its composite index striking an all-time high, Hong Kong was up 1.01 percent and nearing its best ever finish.
Tokyo, trading at its best levels since May, was up 0.51 percent while Manila gained 0.81 percent for its best finish in nine years.
Kuala Lumpur surged 1.29 percent, Mumbai gained 0.94 percent, Taipei rose 0.78 percent and Seoul rose by a more modest 0.25 percent.
TAIPEI
Share prices closed 0.78 percent higher as Wall Street's overnight rally helped the market extend Thursday's technical rebound following a correction earlier in the week.
Dealers said sentiment was also supported by foreign investors' net purchases a day earlier after their sell-off in the previous three days.
The weighted index closed up by 58.41 points at 7,538.82 on turnover of NT$106.20 billion (US$3.26 billion).
Fubon Securities senior vice president Frank Lin attributed Friday's gains to the lead in New York and apparent foreign interest.
"Foreign investors apparently continued to buy into the local bourse today, encouraging local ones to follow suit," he said.
He said liquidity-driven interest lent support to the broad market as well.
Companies with a presence in the China market and asset-backed firms attracted rotational buying.
"Year-end window-dressing activities and companies' prospects next year will be the main factors affecting the stock market next week," Lin noted.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co rose 0.80 to NT$64.90.
TOKYO
Share prices closed up 0.51 percent at a fresh seven-month high after a central bank survey showed business sentiment at its strongest level since September 2004.
Dealers said that a further weakening of the yen against the dollar helped support the exporters, leading to a week of five straight winning sessions.
The Nikkei-225 gained 85.11 points to 16,914.31. Volume increased to 1.66 billion shares from 1.51 billion shares on Thursday.
Masayoshi Yano, chief strategist at Tokai Tokyo Research Center, said the market was buoyed by the Bank of Japan's quarterly Tankan survey while the weak yen continued to support exporters.
SEOUL
Shares closed 0.25 percent higher on investor relief that the "triple witching" expiry of futures and options contracts on Thursday had gone smoothly, with a firmer Wall Street also providing support.
Dealers said the won's retreat added to the positive tone, helping the key exporters. It finished at 923.20 against the US dollar compared with 920.50 on Thursday.
Interest, however, was not strong with investors playing it safe before the weekend and after a rise of more than 2 percent on Thursday.
HONG KONG
Share prices closed 1.01 percent higher, ending the week with a solid gain as fresh fund inflows and strong performances by new listings added to positive sentiment arising from a record close on Wall Street overnight.
Dealers said buying was seen across the board amid heavy turnover as new listings China Communications Construction and Shanghai Jin Jiang International Hotels drew strong interest.
The Hang Seng Index closed up 191.25 points at 19,110.65. Turnover was heavy at HK$63.23 billion (US$8.11 billion).
Cheung Kong rose 2.70 at 93.40.
SHANGHAI
Share prices closed 1.10 percent higher, chalking up another record finish as investors showed themselves ready to push the market even further ahead from these levels.
Dealers said confidence in the overall economic outlook and the prospect of further gains in the yuan continues to underpin the gains, forcing the hand of those hoping for a correction so they can get into the market.
The Shanghai A-share Index rose 26.05 points to 2,390.42 on turnover of 40.04 billion yuan (US$5.10 billion) and the Shenzhen A-share Index was up 9.32 points or 1.74 percent at 544.87 on turnover of 25.08 billion yuan.
SYDNEY
Shares closed on record highs after an overnight surge on Wall Street and higher commodity prices buoyed mining and energy stocks.
Dealers said the Australian market enjoyed a bounce from Wall Street and from metal and oil prices moving higher overnight.
The S and P/ASX 200 gained 2.3 points to 5,575.4. A total of 1.87 billion shares worth A$4.64 billion (US$3.64 billion) were traded.
BHP Billiton shares gained A$0.12 to close at A$26.02 while fellow miner Rio Tinto added A$0.55 to A$77.49.
SINGAPORE
Share prices closed at a new record high for the second straight session on continued investor confidence in the economy.
The Straits Times Index gained 15.01 points to 2,931.29. Volume totalled 1.44 billion shares worth S$1.38 billion (US$896 million).
Frasers Securities research head Najeeb Jarhom said the index is on target to hit the 3,000-point level with support of strong economic news.
Singapore Telecommunications was one of the main drivers behind the market's surge to a new record, closing 0.12 higher at 3.24 on confidence over the earnings outlook of its regional mobile associates.
KUALA LUMPUR
Share prices gained 1.29 percent in a technical rebound after three straight days of losses, with investor sentiment boosted by merger activity in the plantations sector.
The composite index rose 13.85 points to 1,089.32. Trading volume was 840.69 million shares valued at 1.72 billion ringgit (US$471 million).
Plantation group PPB and unit PPB Oil Palms surged following a takeover offer from Singapore's Wilmar International.
BANGKOK
Share prices closed 0.53 percent higher as investors cheered the central bank's vow to curb a rising Thai baht against the US dollar.
Dealers said the market also held firm in line with gains on regional markets.
The composite index rose 3.89 points to 736.29 on turnover of 1.8 billion shares worth 11.2 billion baht (US$318 million).
The central bank's assistant governor, Nitaya Pibulratanagit, said the bank would announce "new measures" to curb the rising currency by the end of this month.
PTT rose 2.00 baht to 226.00.
JAKARTA
Share prices closed up 1.38 percent due to strong gains in large caps such as Telkom and PGN, which helped push the benchmark index to a fresh finishing high.
The composite index closed up 24.362 points to 1,792.164 on volume of 3.43 billion shares worth 4.66 trillion rupiah (US$512.93 million).
Telkom finished up 350 rupiah at 10,250.
MUMBAI
Share prices closed 0.94 percent higher as domestic and overseas funds shrugged off concerns about inflation and higher interest rates and resumed buying.
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