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 Manila, Shanghai, 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.