Japan's Nikkei 225 was the biggest riser at the close, up 5.88%, as the Japanese yen weakened about 1.4% to 118.03 against the US dollar in a lift to exporters.
The European Central Bank on Thursday decided to keep its key rates unchanged, as expected by analysts.
The ECB left interest rates at 0.05%, the deposit facility rate at -0.30% and the marginal lending facility at 0.30%.
European Central Bank President Mario Draghi on Thursday said in light of the recent falls in oil prices and its impact on inflation, the monetary authority would reconsider its monetary policy at its early March meeting when macroeconomic projections became available.
