Asian shares ended a volatile Wednesday on a mixed note, with China's two main equity benchmarks rallying more than 5% as investors sought out value plays among issues that have been beaten down of late.
Tokyo's benchmark Nikkei 225 index edged up 0.7 percent to 14,452.82.
Among gainers, Toyota Motor Corp., Honda Motor Co. and Nissan Motor Co. all added more than 1 percent. Sony Corp. was up 0.2 percent, while electronics company Hitachi Ltd. added 1.8 percent.
Canon Inc. and other Japanese exporters eked out modest gains as the yen weakened slightly against the U.S. dollar on dampened expectations that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates before the autumn.
Shares of Canon ended 0.4 percent higher, while NEC Electronics Corp. rallied in Tokyo on an analyst upgrade.
In Hong Kong, the blue-chip Hang Seng Index climbed 1.16 percent to 23,325.80, with investors picking up stocks in most sectors.
Shanghai's benchmark index surged 5.2 percent to 2,941.11.
China financials, including ICBC and China Construction Bank, were higher on the strength of mainland shares.
And local developers rose amid hopes that the U.S. Federal Reserve will keep interest rates unchanged when it meets next week. Cheung Kong climbed 1.14 percent. Sun Hung Kai Properties rose 3.59 percent after Goldman Sachs upgraded the company to ''buy'' from ''neutral.''
Elsewhere:
Australia's benchmark index ended 0.4 percent higher.
Singapore's Straits Times Index ended little changed at 3,027.98.
New Zealand's NZX-50 eased 0.4%.
Indonesia's JSX Composite fell 0.6%.
Thailand's SET retreated 0.9%.
Malaysia's KLSE Composite gave up 1.2%.
India's Bombay Sensex surrendered 1.5%.
with files from other wire services
