06:38 AM EDT, 04/17/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Asian stock markets largely gained on Thursday after Japan-US trade talks convened, and after "hawkish" comments by Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell on Wednesday strengthened the US dollar.

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

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 finished up 1.4% as a softer yen boosted export issues and as traders gauged prospects of a US-Japan trade deal.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 rose 457.20 to 34,377.60, as gaining issues outnumbered losers 203 to 20.

Leading the upside was Sumitomo Pharma, up 19.7% after issuing a positive report regarding its treatment for Parkinson's disease. Entertainment house Toho fell back 2.3%.

In economic news, Japan's exports rose to 9,847.81 billion yen in March, up 3.9% on the year, reported the Ministry of Finance (MoF).

The nation's imports rose to 9,303.76 billion yen, up 2% on the year, resulting in a March trade surplus of 544.1 billion yen, the MoF added.

Japan exported 1,876.18 billion yen worth of goods to the US in March, and imported 1,029.19 billion yen worth, resulting in a March trade surplus with the US of 846.99 billion yen ($5.93 billion), according to MoF figures.

In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index finished up 1.6% as traders read signals from Beijing that more domestic economic stimulus could be forthcoming.

The broad gauge Hang Seng rose 338.16 to 21,395.14, as gaining issues outnumbered losers 74 to six. The Hang Seng TECH Index gained 1.9% on the day, while the Mainland Properties Index rose 1.7%.

Leading the upside was internet company NetEase, gaining 4.6%, while property manager China Resources Mixc Lifestyle Services declined 4%.

On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite rose 0.1% to 3,280.34.

On the other regional exchanges, the S. Korean KOSPI rose 0.9%; the Taiwan TWSE declined 0.7%; the Australian ASX 200 inclined 0.8%; the Singapore Straits Times Index rose 1.6%, and the Thai Set inclined 0.2%. In late trading in Mumbai, the Sensex was up 2%.

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