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Hong Kong - Asian markets extended their recent uptrend on Thursday after US data showed the world's top economy grew much more than expected in the second quarter.
The gains are the latest in a rally fuelled by a broadly upbeat outlook on the global economy. However, a surge in the dollar in response to the US figures was tempered by a guarded report by the Federal Reserve.
Tokyo rose 0.62% thanks to the weaker yen, Hong Kong added 0.32%, Sydney gained 0.33% and Shanghai was 0.11% higher, but Seoul lost 0.20%.
Jakarta was closed for a public holiday.
The Commerce Department said on Wednesday the economy grew 4.0% in April-June, much more than the 3.0% forecast. It was also a sharp reversal on the 2.1% contraction in the previous three months that was caused by a severe winter.
The news sent the dollar surging in New York to ¥103.09 - its highest level since early April and well up from the ¥102.11 earlier in Tokyo.
However, it retreated to ¥102.81 by the end of trade after the Fed said that, while the economy was strengthening, it was still disappointed in the jobs market and would keep interest rates low for as long as needed.
Traders had been hoping the pick-up in economic activity would push bank chief Janet Yellen to increase rates as soon as this year, rather than late 2015, as previously indicated.
In early Asian trade the dollar was changing hands at ¥102.82.
The euro bought $1.3394 and ¥137.76 on Thursday against $1.3395 and ¥137.73.
An "optimistic view is spreading for the global economic outlook", said Hiroichi Nishi, general manager of equity at SMBC Nikko Securities.
Despite the healthy data, Wall Street ended mixed. The Dow slipped 0.19% but the Nasdaq added 0.45%, while the S&P 500 was marginally higher.
Traders were largely unimpressed by a report from payrolls company ADP that showed the private sector created 218 000 jobs in July. While it is above the 200 000 level, it is much lower than the 281 000 seen in June.
Eyes are now on the release Friday of non-farm payrolls, which will give a better handle on the state of the economy.
On oil markets, US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for September delivery eased 76 cents to Sg$99.51, while Brent crude for September was down 49 cents to $106.02.
Gold fetched $1 294.74 an ounce by 04:10 compared with $1 299.40 late on Wednesday.
