Asian markets rose on Friday after a strong Wall Street rally sparked by upbeat figures on the US labour market ahead of the release of crucial jobs data later in the day.
Tokyo's benchmark Nikkei index soared 2.17 percent, or 307.29 points, to 14,462.41, while the broader Topix index of all first-section issues was up 2.30 percent, or 26.77 points, to 1,189.14.
Sony shares closed up 4.12 percent at 1,691 yen after the electronics giant late Thursday announced it was cutting 5,000 jobs and exiting the stagnant PC market this year.
Investors cheered the aggressive restructuring plan, which offset the impact of a forecast net loss of $1.08 billion for the full year to March, analysts said.
"Sony's stock was cheap enough to warrant picking up on the restructuring theme," Kawai said, adding: "The shares would have probably been killed if they had been trading around the 3,000-yen level before this news came out."
An equity trading director at a foreign brokerage said Tokyo governor election coming up Sunday had pushed up select shares.
, AFP
Closing levels for key Asia-Pacific stock markets on February 7, 2014
image:171145:0::0
Japan Bridge rose 2.85 percent to 180 yen as Yoichi Masuzoe, a candidate backed by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party who favours more public works spending, is tipped to win the race.
Camera maker Nikon was up 5.49 percent at 1,765 yen and automaker Suzuki climbed 2.10 percent to 2,623 yen after the pair reported solid earnings Thursday.
Hong Kong's benchmark Hang Seng index gained 213.72 points or 1.00 percent to end at 21,636.85.
Chinese Internet giant Tencent gained 3.15 percent to HK$524.5, oil giant CNOOC climbed 3.95 percent to HK$12.12, HSBC Holdings added 0.7 percent to HK$79.3, while insurance giant AIA was up 0.56 percent to HK$35.65.
Chinese shares closed up 0.56 percent on traders' first day back after a week-long Lunar New Year holiday.
The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index climbed 11.42 points to 2,044.50 on turnover of 67.8 billion yuan ($11.2 billion).
"The index is helped by a positive market sentiment. Investors expect a good start after the Chinese New Year," Shenyin Wanguo Securities analyst Qian Qimin told AFP.
Media shares led the gainers, with Chinese Universe Publishing and Media surging by its 10 percent daily limit to 24.70 yuan as Jishi Media soared 10 percent to 11.42 yuan and Northern United Publishing & Media leapt 9.94 percent to 7.74 yuan.
Shipmakers were also higher. China CSSC Holdings soared by its 10 percent daily limit to 23.98 yuan, Guangzhou Shipyard International rose 7.43 percent to 19.09 yuan, and CSSC Jiangnan Heavy Industry gained 6.95 percent to 9.70 yuan.
The Sydney market closed 0.68 percent, or 35.1 points, higher at 5,166.5 and Seoul added 0.77 percent, or 14.61 points, to close at 1,922.50.
On currency markets the dollar sat at 102.05 yen Friday, after climbing in New York to 102.10 yen. However, it is well above the mid-101 yen range in Tokyo earlier Thursday.
The US Labor Department's report of January data on job creation and unemployment early Friday "could make or break the greenback", said Kathy Lien of BK Asset Management.
The euro bought $1.3583 and 138.65 yen against $1.3591 and 138.79 yen. However it is much stronger than the $1.3517 and 137.16 yen in Tokyo on Thursday.
Oil prices were mixed. New York's main contract, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for March delivery, eased 24 cents to $97.60 in afternoon trade while Brent North Sea crude for March was flat at $107.19.
Gold fetched $1,262.31 an ounce at 0810 GMT compared with $1,258.60 late Thursday.
In other markets:
-- Manila rose 1.63 percent, or 96.55 points, to 6,011.14.
Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. rose 1.69 percent to 2,648 pesos while Alliance Global Group Inc. jumped 0.19 percent to 27.05 pesos.
-- Taipei added 0.92 percent, or 76.34 points, to 8,387.35.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co was up 1.96 percent at Tw$104.0 while Hon Hai fell 0.61 percent to Tw$81.4.
-- Wellington rose 0.68 percent, or 32.85 points, to 4,840.79.
Chorus jumped 7.9 percent to NZ$1.49 and Contact Energy was steady at NZ$5.25.
hollywoodtone.blogspot.com Asia shares up after Wall St gains, eyes on jobs data