Asian shares were higher Wednesday, led by gains in Japanese blue chips such as Canon Inc. and Toyota Motor Corp., after a government report showed the economy continues to improve and after a stronger finish for U.S. stocks on Wall Street.
Japan's Nikkei 225 Average added 105.52 points, or 0.65 percent, to close at 16,371.28 while Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index rose 0.43 percent to close at 19,026.36.
Worries about a global economic slowdown and the U.S. dollar's weakening against the yen spurred Tokyo traders to move into high dividend stocks and stocks viewed as closely linked to domestic demand.
Mizuho Trust Banking rose 0.37 percent to 268 yen (US$2.33) and Nippon Sheet Glass jumped 7.33 percent to 542 yen (US$4.72).
Elsewhere:
BANGKOK: Thailand's shares ended higher. The Stock Exchange of Thailand's SET index gained 3.71 points, or 0.50 percent, to close at 746.16.
JAKARTA: Indonesian shares rose to a new record high, lifted by gains in Gas Negara and Telkom. The Jakarta Stock Exchange Composite index closed 7.670 points, or 0.4 percent up, to end at 1,784.428.
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's key stock index climbed, buoyed by strong investor sentiment as the U.S. dollar fell to a new eight-year low against Malaysia's ringgit. The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index of 100 blue chips rose 0.9 percent to 1,098.35 points.
MANILA: Philippine shares slid as investors cashed in gains from the market's three-day rise. The benchmark 30-company Philippine Stock Exchange Index dropped 10.30 points, or 0.37 percent, to 2,797.79.
MUMBAI: Indian shares ended flat after five days of gains as profit-taking in auto shares offset gains in technology and telecommunication shares, with some market participants expecting a correction at the current high levels. The Bombay Stock Exchange's 30-stock Sensitive Index, or Sensex, rose 11.35 points, or 0.1 percent, to 11,949.00.
SHANGHAI: China's shares fell as investors took profits after a five-day winning streak, but telecom shares rose on speculation Beijing might issue next-generation mobile phone licenses soon. The Shanghai Composite Index ended down 0.8 percent at 2,156.60. The Shenzhen Composite Index for China's smaller second market fell 1.3 percent to 508.39.
SEOUL: South Korean stocks dropped with the Korea Composite Stock Price Index, or Kospi, falling 0.48 percent, or 6.86 points, to 1,413.73.
SINGAPORE: Singaporean shares dipped largely because of profit-taking after the previous day's record closing. But traders expect the correction to be short-lived, with the uptrend likely to last through year-end. The Straits Times Index finished down 7 points, or 0.2 percent, at 2,895.02.
TAIPEI: Taiwan shares reached a fresh six-year high as both land owners and electronics put in strong performances. The Weighted Price Index of the Taiwan Stock Exchange rose 83.43 points, or 1.1 percent, to 7,693.33 -- its highest closing level since finishing at 7,785.62 on Sept. 5, 2000.
WELLINGTON: New Zealand shares closed higher with the NZSX-50 benchmark index rising 5.95 points, or 0.15 percent, to 3,855.01.
SYDNEY: Australian shares rose, driven by key mining stocks and merger and acquisition activity in the media sector. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index added 40.2 points, or 0.7 percent, to end at the day's high of 5,466.7.
With files from wire services
