Major Asian stock markets closed mostly higher Thursday.

Tokyo's Nikkei index rose one percent to finish at 8,701.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng index was closed due to the threat posed by Typhoon Nesat.

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

In currency trading, the dollar was selling at 76.69 yen, a gain of a fraction of a yen from Wednesday.

Gold is trading at $1,619.82 an ounce.