n today’s market report… better-than-expected profits from Intel, the word's top chipmaker, boosted Asian technology shares.

Japan's Nikkei touched a 15-month high, as chip-making equipment firm Tokyo Electron gained, along with Nikon, the number 2 maker of chip steppers.

Cosmetics giant Shiseido jumped after saying it will buy California-based Bare Escentuals for $1.7 billion.

Taiwan chipmakers and PC firms joined global peers and led advances, while Korean giant Samsung climbed again.