Japan's Nikkei 225 on Thursday posted its highest closing level ever, finally beating a record set in 1989 during the country's asset bubble.

The index of blue chip stocks ended the day at 39,098.68 points, beating the previous record of 38,915.87 set on December 29, 1989.

Hong Kong shares rose on Thursday after higher-than-expected US tech earnings helped boost Asian markets, including pushing Tokyo's benchmark index to a record close.

The Hang Seng Index finished up 1.5 percent, or 239.85 points, to close at 16,742.95.

The Shanghai Composite Index advanced 1.3 percent, or 37.40 points, to 2,988.36, and the Shenzhen Composite Index on China's second exchange added 1.3 percent, or 21.09 points, to 1,650.10.

Gold prices fell from a near two-week high on Thursday after jobless claims data indicated a strong economy, while investors awaited further economic data for guidance on the U.S. Federal Reserve's interest rate stance.

Spot gold lost 0.1% to $2,022.74 an ounce by 01:42 p.m. ET (1842 GMT), after hitting its highest since Feb. 9 of $2034.69 earlier in the session.

U.S. gold futures settled 0.2% lower to $2030.7.

Data showed the number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits unexpectedly fell last week, suggesting that job growth likely remained solid in February.

In other precious metals, spot platinum was up 1.9% at $899.60 an ounce, palladium rose 2% to $968.40 and silver lost 0.3% to $22.80.

West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil closed higher on Thursday after US oil inventories less than expected..

WTI crude for April delivery closed up US$0.70 to settle at US$78.61 per barrel, while April Brent crude, the global benchmark, was last seen up US$0.57 to US$83.60.

Prices fell early after the the American Petroleum Institute reported US oil inventories rose by 7.2-million barrels last week, above the 4.3-million barrel consensus estimate, However official data from the Energy Information Administration showed a rise of only 3.5-million barrel, while gasoline and distillate inventories dropped.

Prices are also being supported by geopolitical risk, after Yemen's Houthi militants promised to increase attacks on Red Sea shipping and said they also now have submarine weapons, according to a Reuters report.