Most Asian markets were higher Wednesday, with resource stocks rallying on the back of strong commodity prices as gold hovered near its record.
Investors were also looking forward to U.S. third-quarter earnings, which kick off later on Wednesday with aluminum giant Alcoa reporting.
In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 gained 107.80 points, or 0.2%, to 9,691.80.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index leaped another 430.06 points, or 2.1%, after Tuesday’s 300-point-plus surge, to 21,241.59.
Shanghai markets had the day off.
Gold miners jumped after spot gold prices hit a record $1,043.55 U.S. a troy ounce Tuesday. The yellow metal was recently at $1,039.50 U.S. a troy ounce, down $2.30 from the New York close.
Australia's Lihir Gold rose 5.7% and Newcrest Mining surged 6.7%.
In Hong Kong, Zhaojin Mining Industry Co. rose 4.6% and Zijin Mining Group gained 4.2%.
Gains for base-metals prices Tuesday also helped BHP Billiton was up 3.2% and Rio Tinto was up 5.2% in Sydney.
A rise in crude-oil futures lifted Santos 1.2%. PetroChina Co. climbed 3.6% in Hong Kong.
Miners and energy stocks were also outperforming in other Asian markets. Korea Zinc Co. climbed 7.5% in Seoul and Sumitomo Metal Mining Co. was up 5.4% in Tokyo. Japan's Inpex gained 2.9%.
Among other big stock gainers, Japanese materials manufacturer Tosoh was up 6.8% and peer Showa Denko soared 10.5%, after the Nikkei reported the two were starting to produce safe, low-cost materials for lithium-ion batteries with an eye on growing demand for green vehicles.
The New Zealand market had reversed early gains as heavyweight Telecom Corp. of New Zealand fell 2.3% and Fletcher Building lost 2.1%. One expert said weakness in these two stocks was likely due to index adjustments from offshore parties.
In Taipei, banks, land-asset plays and construction stocks were getting a boost from the weaker U.S. dollar, with Cathay Financial Holding up 5.2% and Fubon Financial 2.1% higher.
Elsewhere:
Taiwan’s Taiex index gained 72.61 points, or 1%, to 7,608.66
Singapore’s Straits Times index picked up 22.74 points, or 0.9%, to 2,634.63
Korea’s Kospi index fell 0.44 points to 1,598.00
New Zealand’s NZX 50 Index stumbled 10.36 points, or 0.3%, to 3,141.19
Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 finished 104.10 points, or 2.3%, higher at 4,695.70.
