Asian stock markets were broadly higher for the fourth day this week with investors continuing to regain their appetite for risk as credit-crunch worries subsided.

The Nikkei 225 powered ahead 2.6 per cent to close at 16,316.32, with exporters helped by a 0.6 per cent weakening of the yen to Y115.91 per US dollar. The machinery sector rose 4.3 per cent.