Asian stock markets closed higher on Thursday after an overnight surge on U.S. markets. Investors were focused on the European Central Bank's meeting later in the day.

Japan's benchmark index, Nikkei 225 rose 268.78 points or 1.45 percent to settle at 18,765.47. Hong Kong's Hang Seng went up 60.92 points or 0.27 percent to end at 22,861.84.

South Korea's KOSPI rose 39.18 points or 1.97 percent to end at 2,031.07. Taiwan's TAIEX went up 111.97 points or 1.21 percent to end at 9,375.86.

On the other hand, China's benchmark index, Shanghai Composite lost 6.88 points or 0.21 percent to close at 3,215.37. Singapore's Straits Times fell 0.98 points or 0.03 percent to end at 2,958.86.