Major Asian stock markets closed higher Thursday.

Tokyo's Nikkei index gained nearly one-quarter of one percent to finish at 9,816.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng index rose just over one and one-half percent to finish the day's trading at 23,398.

Share prices were also higher in Bangkok, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney, Taipei and Wellington.

In currency trading, the dollar was selling at 80.42, a loss of more than one-quarter of a yen from Wednesday.

Gold is trading at $1,510.08 an ounce.