HONG KONG, June 25 (AFP): Asian markets rose for a second successive day Thursday with investors boosted by the US Federal Reserve's confirmation it will keep interest rates at near zero as well as upbeat economic data.

Hong Kong, Tokyo and Seoul each rose a little more than two per cent, while Sydney added 1.29 per cent and Taipei put on 1.22 per cent.

The Federal Open Market Committee's move Wednesday after a two-day meeting was widely expected as it tries to steer the world's biggest economy out of recession.

It did not indicate any change to efforts in pumping liquidity into the system, which began with a pledge this year to buy more than a trillion dollars in US government and agency securities to push down interest rates.

The bank also noted "the pace of economic contraction is slowing."

Dealers were also taking in news that US long-lasting manufactured goods surged unexpectedly in May.

The past two days of rises follow a tough week for stocks, which had fallen to profit-taking following a three-month rally.

TOKYO: Up 2.15 per cent. The Nikkei-225 rose 205.76 points to end at 9,796.08.

Exporters were helped by a weaker yen, which is good for exporters.

Tokyo Electron added 4.1 per cent to 4,570 yen and TDK advanced 4.2 per cent to 4,460 yen.

HONG KONG: Up 2.14 per cent. The Hang Seng Index closed up 382.88 points at 18,275.03.

Banks and property firms helped the bourse higher.

SYDNEY: Up 1.29 per cent. The S&P/ASX 200 rose 49.0 points to 3,856.0.

The market was bolstered by renewed optimism that the domestic economy would escape the worst of the global downturn, dealers said.

SHANGHAI: Flat. The Shanghai Composite Index, which covers A and B shares, rose 2.75 points, or 0.09 per cent, to 2,925.05.

TAIPEI: Up 1.22 per cent. The weighted index closed 77.53 points higher at 6,457.61.