Nov. 6, 2009 (Baystreet.ca) --

Asian markets ended higher Friday, following overnight gains on Wall Street, with commodity-related stocks boosted by weakness in the U.S. dollar.

In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 index added 71.91 points, or 0.7%, to 9,789.35.

In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index leaped 350.64 points, or 1.6%, to 21,829.72.

Commodity shares performed strongly, with Rio Tinto climbing 3.9%, BHP Billiton rising 2.6%. Marine transportation stocks also climbed following recent improvement in freight rates. China Cosco Holdings gained 2.1% in Hong Kong and 1.1% in Shanghai, Neptune Orient Lines advanced 2.6% in Singapore trading and Hanjin Shipping Co. added 1.2% in Seoul.

Several financial stocks advanced in the region, tracking their U.S. peers, with Commonwealth Bank of Australia rising 1.7%, Westpac Banking Group jumping 2.6% in Sydney, KB Financial adding 1.7% in Seoul and Bank of Communications gaining 2.5% in Hong Kong.

In Tokyo, however, financial stocks lagged the market after a Nikkei report on tighter global banking regulations sparked concerns about capital raising. Mizuho Financial Group fell 1.1% and Shinsei Bank lost 2.5%.

Still, gains in some exporters helped the Nikkei 225 finish higher. Electronics maker NEC Corp. was a bright spot, jumping 10.1% in strong volume following news of capital raising.

Toyota Motor advanced in early trade after announcing better-than-expected earnings and lifting its forecasts, but ended 1.7% lower on the yen's strength. Elpida finished up 1.8%, but well off its highs as well, on news it had signed a pact with Taiwan's ProMOS Technologies to outsource production of memory chips. ProMOS surged 6.3% higher in Taipei.

Ssangyong Motor was a standout in Seoul, jumping 14.9% before a court ruling on the company's proposed restructuring plan.

CHINA

The Shanghai 300 Composite Index gained another 18.70 points, or 0.5%, to 3,483.02.

Sino Gold Mining adding 2.1% in the resources-laden Sydney stock market. Jiangxi Copper gained 2.6% and Shandong Gold-Mining rose 1.7% in Shanghai, with energy producer Cnooc jumping 3.4%.

Elsewhere:

Taiwan's Taiex index picked up 45.59 points, or 0.6%, to 7,463.05

Singapore's Straits Times index was up 28.86 points, or 1.1%, to 2,658.21

Korea's Kospi index marched ahead 20.22 points, to 1.3%, to 1,572.46

New Zealand's NZX Index finished 15.66 points, or 0.5%, higher to 3,160.16

Australia's S&P/ASX 200 gained 86 points, or 1.9%, to 4,594.00