Major Asian stock markets closed higher Thursday.

Tokyo's Nikkei index gained two percent to finish at 8,927.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng index soared three and one-quarter percent to finish the day's trading at 19,689.

Share prices were also higher in Bangkok, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney, Taipei and Wellington. No trading was conducted in Mumbai.

In currency trading, the U.S. dollar was selling at 75.81 yen, a loss of more than one-quarter of a yen from Wednesday.

Gold is trading at $1,711.18 an ounce.