Asian shares rose on Thursday with the Nikkei showing its biggest one-day rise since March 2002 as investors digested data from Japan showing faster than expected economic growth and a surprise increase in US retail sales.

The Nikkei closed 4.27 per cent higher at 13,626.45 and the broader based Topix gained 3.66 per cent to 1,332.44. Shares were also helped by the yen staying close to its weakest level for a month, at Y108.33 per dollar.