06:55 AM EDT, 04/18/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Asian stock markets largely gained on Thursday after industry-colossus Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing reported strong earnings and projected solid demand for computer chips, due to burgeoning AI demand.

Hong Kong, Shanghai and Tokyo finished in the green, as did most other regional exchanges.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 opened lower but rose to the close, finishing up 0.3% after tech issues rallied following the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing earnings report.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 snapped a three-day losing streak and gained 117.90 to 38,079.70, as rising issues outnumbered losers 173 to 50.

Leading the upside was semiconductor-test equipment maker Advantest, up 5.1%, while Fujifilm fell 3.1%.

In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index opened evenly and gained in the afternoon, finishing up 0.8% on strength in financial issues, including bank and insurance shares.

The broad gauge Hang Seng rose 134.03 to 16,385.87, as gaining issues outnumbered losers to 52 to 38. The Hang Seng TECH Index gained 0.5% on the day, while the Mainland Properties Index rose 0.2%.

Leading the upside was knitwear-maker Shenzhou International, gaining 5.1%, while Xinyi Glass brought up the rear, falling 4.4%

On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite rose 0.1% to 3,074.22.

On the other regional exchanges, the S. Korean KOSPI rose 2%; the Taiwan TWSE inclined 0.4%; the Australian ASX 200 inclined 0.5%; the Singapore Straits Times Index rose 1.1%, but the Thai Set declined 0.4%. In late trading in Mumbai, the Sensex was down 0.6%.

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