Asian stock markets closed mostly higher Thursday.

Tokyo's Nikkei index gained more than one and one-half percent to finish at 8,772.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng index earned nearly one and one-half percent to finish the day's trading at 19,752.

Share prices were higher in Shanghai, Sydney, Taipei and Wellington, but lower in Manila.

In currency trading, the dollar was selling at 77.07 yen, a gain of a fraction of a yen from Wednesday.