HONG KONG - Asian markets climbed for a second straight session on Friday following another record close on Wall Street and a string of positive economic data from China, Europe and the United States.
Buying sentiment was also helped by much welcomed earnings results, while investor confidence helped the dollar push higher. Tokyo surged 3.29 percent, or 460.39 points, to 14,466.16 as the yen slipped, while Seoul added 0.14 percent, or 2.64 points, to 1,923.38. Sydney rose 1.09 percent, or 55.3 points, to 5,116.8.
Hong Kong closed 0.46 percent higher, adding 102.18 points, to 22,190.97 and Shanghai ended flat, edging up 0.35 points, to 2,029.42. Regional shares rallied on Thursday as traders welcomed the prospect the US Federal Reserve will keep its stimulus in place as well as strong US growth data and better-than-expected Chinese manufacturing.
They were given another boost on Friday after a survey showed eurozone manufacturing activity last month was growing for the first time since July 2011.
Soon afterwards, the US Institute for Supply Management index of activity also surged to its highest level since July two years ago, well above market estimates.
The news was a shot in the arm for Wall Street, where the S&P 500 surged 1.25 percent to a record close, while the Dow climbed 0.83 percent and the Nasdaq rallied 1.36 percent.
It also fuelled buying on currency markets, with the dollar jumping to 99.52 yen in New York on Thursday from 98.63 earlier in Tokyo.
On Friday the greenback climbed further, fetching 99.61 yen. The euro bought $1.3215 and 131.66 yen against $1.3208 and 131.45 yen. The eurozone results added to optimism for the region's future after a slew of releases that have pointed to a pick-up in the economy and a possible exit from recession.
And on Thursday European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi provided more support when he pledged to keep interest rates low -- or even lower them.
"Recent confidence indicators based on survey data have shown some further improvement from low levels and tentatively confirm the expectation of a stabilisation in economic activity," Draghi said.
However, "the risks surrounding the economic outlook for the euro area continue to be on the downside," he warned at a news conference after the ECB's latest policy meeting.
On the corporate front Sony and Sharp surprised on the upside thanks to cost-cutting measures and a weaker yen. The electronics giants enjoyed an uptick on Friday, a day after Sony said it had swung to a profit in the three months to June, while Sharp managed to shrink its year earlier net loss.
Eyes will now be on Washington later Friday, when the government releases non-farm payrolls data, which will give an idea about the strength of the world's number one economy.
On oil markets New York's main contract, West Texas Intermediate for delivery in September, climbed 11 cents to $108.00 and Brent North Sea crude for September rose six cents to $110.60.
Gold cost $1,289.00 per ounce at 1050 GMT, compared with $1,323.90 late Thursday.  Taipei rose 0.54 percent, or 43.66 points, to 8,099.88.
Hon Hai rose 0.39 percent to Tw$76.9 while smartphone maker HTC fell 3.7 percent to Tw$143.0. Wellington added 0.82 percent, or 37.12 points, to 4,582.89.
Chorus was up 2.59 percent at NZ$2.77, Contact Energy gained 1.11 percent to NZ$5,47 and Air New Zealand was steady at NZ$1.43.
Manila closed 1.91 percent lower, shedding 127.49 points to 6,533.95.
SM Investments plunged 8.58 percent to 879 pesos and SM Prime Holdings fell 5.57 percent to 16.62, while Alliance Global dropped 3.11 percent to 26.45 pesos.
Kuala Lumpur rose 4.69 points, or 0.3 percent, to close at 1,782.51. Gaming resorts operator Genting Malaysia rose 4.7 percent to end at 4.50 ringgit.
Bangkok fell 1.15 percent or 16.57 points to 1,420.94.
Supermarket operator Siam Makro added 3.44 percent to 782.00, while telecoms company True Corporation dropped 4.29 percent to 7.80 baht.
Jakarta ended up 0.36 percent, or 16.45 points, at 4,640.78. Indocement Tunggal Prakarsa rose 4.46 percent to 22,250 rupiah, while lender Bank Permata fell 1.84 percent to 1,600 rupiah.
Singapore closed up 0.33 percent, or 10.84 points, at 3,254.13. Oil rig maker Keppel Corp was down 0.58 percent to Sg$10.35, while Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation gained 0.75 percent to Sg$10.74.
Mumbai fell 0.79 percent or 153.17 points to 19,162.02 points. India's Financial Technologies fell 21.12 percent to 151.25 rupees, while Jindal Steel fell 7.29 percent to 186.9 rupees.