Japanese stocks ended higher on Tuesday as Nikon Corp. and Olympus Corp. fronted an advance in technology-related issues after stronger quarterly profits, while several share indexes in the region tapped new record highs.
In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 index climbed 62.06 points, or 0.36 percent, to close at 17,406.86 while Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index jumped 199.58 points, or 1 percent, to 20,655.20.
Investment trusts bought up high dividend-paying power companies like Tokyo Electric Power Co., which surged 4.9 percent to 4,470 yen (US$37.03) and Kansai Electric Power Co., up 7.5 percent to 3,850 yen (US$31.89).
Toyota Motor Corp. shares gained 1.8 percent to 7,960 yen (US$65.94) ahead of its earnings report for the October-December quarter. After the market closed Tuesday Toyota said its quarterly net profit rose 7.3 percent on strong sales in North American and Europe.
Elsewhere:
BANGKOK: Thai shares edged down 0.1 percent to close at 673.63 after recent gains on profit-taking in banking, energy blue chips.
JAKARTA: Indonesian shares ended 0.4 percent lower at 1,761.29 in moderate trade, hurt by fears that severe floods in Jakarta will affect companies earnings.
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian shares rose, on foreign fund-led buying in finance, plantation and property related stocks, brokers said. The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index added 0.9 percent to close at 1,236.63.
MANILA: Philippine shares declined as investors cashed in profits from a six-day rally. The Philippine Stock Exchange Index shed 9.93 points, or 0.3 percent, at 3,271.97.
SEOUL: South Korean shares rose, led by display manufacturers, steel makers and banks. The Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 10.63 points, or 0.8 percent, to 1,428.58.
SHANGHAI: Chinese stocks rebounded from early losses, as bargain-hunting of financial shares snapped a five-day losing streak. The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index leapt 2.4 percent to 2,675.70. The Shenzhen Composite Index rose 1.8 percent to 654.67.
SINGAPORE: Singapore shares finished almost unchanged, with investors largely ignoring news that Singapore Post will lose its monopoly on basic mail services. The Straits Times Index closed down 0.07 points at 3,223.25.
TAIPEI: Taiwan shares rose slightly, led by the transportation sector on expectations of rising sea cargo fees. The Weighted Price Index of the Taiwan Stock Exchange jumped 92.63 points, or 1.2 percent, to 7,875.75.
SYDNEY: Banks led a broad-based rise in Australian shares, with sentiment positive ahead of Wednesday's release of mining giant BHP Billiton's half-year earnings results. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index rose 48.4 points or 0.8 percent to 5,870.5.
WELLINGTON: Financial markets in New Zealand were closed for a public holiday.
With files from wire services
