Japanese equity market faced a boost after the ECB announced a bond-purchasing plan to ease debt pressure in the region. Positive data from the US services industry and labour market also lifted Japanese stocks. Meanwhile, market players remained focused on US non-farm payroll data due later in the day. The Nikkei 225 Index soared 2.20%, halting two-week decline and consolidating at 8,871.65. All sectors within the index climbed. The biggest advances poised oil and gas companies as well as basic materials firms. Oil firms were strongly supported by rally in crude oil price. Inpex, JX Holdings and Showa Shell Sekiyu gained 4.06%, 6.05% and 3.71%, respectively. Among basic materials, Asahi Kasei, Dowa Holdings and Kobe Steel advanced 3.59%, 3.31% and 8.77%, respectively. Toshiba soared 7.26% after OCZ Technology Group, state drive producer, reported significant shortage in NAND flash components. Komatsu and Hitachi Construction Machinery jumped 6.56% and 4.68% after the government approved 60 infrastructural projects.