Asian shares were mostly positive on Wednesday as investors await Donald Trump's first full press conference as the U.S. president-elect to give insight into the new administration's economic policies.
The Nikkei 225 Index regained 63.23 points, or 0.3%, to 19,364.37
The Hang Seng Index in Hong Kong hiked 190.5 points, or 0.8%, to 22,935.35
Australian markets ended the day ahead, led strongly by its materials play.
Toshiba shares jumped 4.3% to 301.1 yen each, after the Japanese conglomerate met creditors on Tuesday and asked them not to use provisions in debt agreements to call in their loans early so as to give the company time to work out a plan
Toshiba announced on Dec. 27 that it might book a goodwill charge of several billion dollars related to cost overruns at a U.S. nuclear plant construction business.
Across the Korean strait, electronics giant Samsung Electronics climbed 2.8% to 1,914,000 won ($1,600 U.S.) each.
Major Australian miners surged after base metal prices jumped overnight in London likely due to better-than-expected producer price inflation in China. Rio Tinto gained 3.9%, Fortescue Metals added 4.5% and BHP Billiton rose 2.6% after its chairman said he held positive talks with Trump on Tuesday.
Organic baby food manufacturer Bellamy's dived 19.9% to A$5.35 per share after falling as much as 44% earlier, after the company said revenue will fall and its chief executive will leave effective immediately.
In other markets
In Shanghai, the CSI 300 dropped 23.77 points, or 0.7%, to 3,334.50
In Korea, the Kospi recovered 30.05 points, or 1.5%, to 2,075.17
The Straits Times Index in Singapore demurred 5.08 points, or 0.2%, to 3,000.94
In Taiwan, the Taiex Index lost 3.9 points to 9,345.74
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 moved up 32.01 points, or 0.5%, to 7,069.59
Australia's ASX 200 moved up 10.78 points, or 0.2%, at 5,771.48
