Commodity shares profit
In Australia, the S&P ASX 200 closed by 1.1% higher, at 4,916.00 points.
Among the market's standout performers were several of the big oil and commodity companies, buoyed by a rise in the oil price.
BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto were 7.5% and 3.4% up respectively, while Santos climbed 11%.
Stocks of winemaker Treasury Wine Estates also stood out, jumping as much as 17.5% to a record high after the co