HONG KONG, Oct 14: Asian stocks soared on Tuesday, with Tokyo posting a historic rise above 14 per cent, after investors welcomed concerted efforts by world leaders to put an end to the global financial meltdown. Governments in the US, Europe, Japan and Australia introduced measures totalling more than a trillion dollars, boosting confidence that the worst credit crisis since the Great Depression could be easing.

Tokyo’s Nikkei soared 1,171.14 points, or 14.15 per cent, to end at 9,447.57, its largest ever per centage gain. The index, which was closed Friday, saw its worst show in two decades on Friday after plummeting almost 10 per cent.

The surge came after the government unveiled measures aimed at stabilising its shaky financial markets, including a relaxation of restrictions on corporate share buybacks. The government also ploughed another two trillion yen (19.4 billion dollars) into the market to maintain liquidity.

And Sydney ended the day 3.7 per cent higher after Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced a $10.4 billion (7.25 billion US) stimulus package to address the crisis, equivalent to one per cent of the country’s GDP.

Hong Kong added 3.2 per cent, Seoul was more than six per cent higher and Taipei was up 5.4 per cent, while Singapore rose 2.5 per cent.

TOKYO: Japan’s Nikkei stock index rose 14.15 per cent, dealers said.

The market soared 1,171.14 points to end at 9,447.57, its largest ever per centage gain.

Shares rose across the board, with the Topix index of all first-section shares surging 115.44 points, or 13.73 per cent, to 956.30.

Toyota Motor leapt 16 per cent to 3,720 yen. Sony jumped 17 per cent to 2,785 yen.

HONG KONG: Share prices closed 3.2 per cent higher, dealers said.

The benchmark Hang Seng Index closed up 520.72 points at 16,832.88, after trading between 16,615.01 and 17,141.05. Turnover was higher than recent sessions at 81.66 billion Hong Kong dollars (10.47 billion US).

SYDNEY: Australian share prices closed up 3.7 per cent, dealers said.

The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 rose 154.5 points to close at 4,335.2, while the broader All Ordinaries gained 169.6 points to 4,311.5.

Turnover was 1.79 billion shares worth 6.02 billion Australian dollars.

SINGAPORE: Shares closed 2.5 per cent higher Tuesday, dealers said.

The main Straits Times Index rose 51.96 points to 2,128.31.

Volume was 1.83 billion shares worth 2.0 billion Singapore dollars (1.37 billion US).

Singapore Airlines surged 58 cents to 13.24, conglomerate Keppel Corp added 14 cents to 6.10 but Singapore Telecommunications was off two cents to 2.90.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian share prices closed 1.6 per cent higher, dealers said.

The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index gained 15.30 points to close at 966.06.

Genting lost 0.4 per cent at 4.98 ringgit while Telekom Malaysia was flat at 3.38 ringgit. Maybank gained 3.6 per cent at 5.75 ringgit while Tenaga rose 1.46 per cent at 6.95 ringgit.

JAKARTA: Indonesian shares rebounded 6.4 per cent, dealers said. The Jakarta Composite Index rose 94.1 points to end at 1555.97.

The main index has fallen 43 per cent since the start of 2008.

Telkom rose 9.9 per cent to 7,250 rupiah after its American Depository receipts in New York increased 16 per cent on bargain buying.

WELLINGTON: New Zealand shares rose 5.99 per cent, dealers said. The benchmark NZX-50 index rose 166.58 points to close at 2,948.97. Telecom rose 10 cents to $2.58 and Contact Energy gained 42 cents to 7.47.

Auckland International Airport rose 15 cents to $1.82 and Ryman Healthcare rose 23 cents to $1.63 .

MUMBAI: Indian shares rose 1.54 per cent, dealers said.

The benchmark 30-share Sensex index rose 174.31 points to 11,483.4, its second straight day of gains.—AFP