Asia markets traded mostly higher on Tuesday as investors wait for a crucial meeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
The Nikkei 225 soared 140.4 points, or 0.6%, to 21.952.
In company news, shares of messaging app Line jumped nearly 13% after the Nikkei business daily reported that it would tie up with Chinese technology giant Tencent to create a mobile payment service.
Line, the Nikkei said without citing sources, will provide mobile payment services to small and medium-sized restaurants and stores in Japan that will be compatible with Tencent's WeChat Pay, therefore likely targeting Chinese tourists.
Tencent shares rose 1.5% in Hong Kong.
Alibaba-backed parenting website operator Babytree Group made its trading debut in Hong Kong. Shares rose as much as 5.1% above the firm's initial public offering price before trimming gains.
The Japanese yen traded at 113.48 to the U.S. dollar.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index slid 44.22 points, or 0.2%, to 26,331.96
Some analysts said strong Black Friday sales reflecting solid consumer confidence was one of the factors that helped boost risk appetite among investors.
Investors were closely watching Apple suppliers in Asia throughout the trading day, after Trump suggested that he could place a 10% tariff on iPhones and laptops imported from China. Apple products are currently exempt from tariffs.
Shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, which makes chips for iPhones, reversed losses of more than 1% to trade up 0.5% Catcher Technology, another Apple partner, fell 2.2% Foxconn, formally known as Hon Hai Precision Industry, which assembles iPhones traded down 0.4% while Pegatron shares rose 1%
Samsung Electronics, which supplies display screens to Apple, rose 1.1%
In Australia, the heavily weighted financial sub-index rose 1.5% while the energy sector added 0.7%, likely receiving a boost from overnight gains in oil prices.
The Australian dollar fetched about $0.7236 U.S.
CHINA
In Shanghai, the CSI 300 faded four points, or 0.1%, to 3,137.24
In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Trump said it's "highly unlikely" that he would delay an increase in tariffs from 10% to 25% on Jan. 1. His comments came days before the G-20 summit in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where he is set to meet Xi for trade talks.
In other markets
In Taiwan, the Taiex index gained 13.26 points, or 0.1%, to 9,778.62
In Korea, the Kospi index added 16.4 points, or 0.8%, at 2,099.42
In Singapore, the Straits Times Index docked 2.98 points, or 0.1%, to 3,090.40
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 regained 11.45 points, or 0.1%, to 8,673.82
In Australia, the ASX 200 heightened 56.71 points, or 1%, to 5,728.28
