Tokyo - The Tokyo market opened higher Friday, briefly sending the key Nikkei 225 Stock Average above 9,000 after an overnight surge on Wall Street. The Nikkei index was up 47.45 points, or 0.53 per cent, to 8,963.51 after peaking at 9,068.8 at during morning trading.

The broader Topix index of all first-section issues gained 3.66 points, or 0.43 per cent, at 845.47.

Exporters were helped by a weaker yen, which boosts earnings of Japanese firms.

Indian Stocks markets stayed in positive zone on Thursday. Markets are waiting for next trigger and are range-bound.

The benchmark indices closed the session on a flat note after remaining volatile throughout the day. The Sensex closed the day at 10,803 up 0.57% or 62 points after swinging in the range of 10,655 - 10,932. The NSE Nifty shut almost flat at 3,342 down just 0.03% or 0.9 points after trading in the range of 3,307 - 3,399. Among broader indices, BSE Midcap Index was up 1.6% or 55 points and Small Cap Index was up 1.6% or 61 points. Buying was seen in banking, realty and metal stocks.

Tokyo  - Asian stocks bounced up Thursday as investors were cheered by news from Japan, where the government prepared to unveil a 154-billion-dollar economic stimulus package and its machinery orders unexpectedly rose.

Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average surged 3.74 per cent to 8,916.06, a day after falling 2.69 per cent on concerns over upcoming corporate earnings reports. Thursday's gains erased the Nikkei's losses for the year.

Japan's broader Topix index of all first-section issues also rose 3.26 per cent to 841.81.

Hong Kong  - Hong Kong shares rebounded by nearly 3 per cent Thursday on the last day of trading before the Easter holidays, clawing back most of its losses from a day earlier.

The blue-chip Hang Seng Index rose by 426.55 points, or 2.95 per cent, to end the session at 14,901.41. Turnover was 52.6 billion Hong Kong dollars (6.78 billion US dollars.)

Taipei  - Taiwan's stocks surged 4.12 per cent Thursday to a six-month closing high with investors buying strongly in the traditional industry, tourism and technology sectors, dealers said.

The main TAIEX index opened higher and extended its gains to close at 5,667.8, up 224.24 points, or 4.12 per cent.

Dealers said reports of continued rush orders from China received by local technology firms and the government's multi-billion dollar plans to boost tourism and local infrastructure projects bolstered investor sentiment.

Seoul  - Shares jumped Thursday on the Seoul stock exchange on the central bank's decision to freeze its key interest rate for the second straight month and expectations for better corporate earnings ahead. South Korea's won rose against the dollar.

The benchmark Kospi index soared 54.28 points, or 4.3 per cent, to close at 1,316.35.

Advancing issues outnumbered decliners 780 to 109.

The main index of the technology-heavy Kosdaq market gained 20.62 points, or 4.47 per cetn, to close at 481.45.