Major Asian stock markets closed mostly higher Friday.

Tokyo's Nikkei index rose two and one-quarter percent to finish at 8,864.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng index soared nearly one and one-half percent to finish the day's trading at 19,455.

Share prices were higher in Jakarta, Mumbai, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney, Taipei and Wellington, but lower in Bangkok and Manila. Markets in Kuala Lumpur were closed for a public holiday.

In currency trading, the dollar was selling unchanged from Thursday at 76.70 yen.

Gold is trading at $1,787.15 an ounce.