Asian stock markets closed higher on Thursday, as investors grew more confident about the world's second-largest economy, while the dollar slightly firmed in the wake of growing concerns over political instability in Europe.

Japan's benchmark index, Nikkei 225 lost 99.93 points or 0.53 percent to settle at 18,907.67. China's benchmark index, Shanghai Composite rose 16.20 points or 0.51 percent to close at 3,183.18.  Hong Kong's Hang Seng gained 40.01 points or 0.17 percent to end at 23,525.14.

Singapore's Straits Times rose 13.43 points or 0.44 percent to end at 3,079.96. South Korea's KOSPI went up 0.80 points or 0.04 percent to end at 2,065.88.  Taiwan's TAIEX gained 46.93 points or 0.49 percent to end at 9,590.18.