Stocks in Asia-Pacific were mostly higher in Wednesday afternoon trade, with multiple markets in Southeast Asia closed for a holiday.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 picked up 88.21 points, or 0.3%, to 28,642.19
The Japanese yen traded at 108.80 per U.S. dollar after touching levels around 108.6 against the greenback yesterday.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng raced ahead 255.15 points, or 0.9%, to 29,166.01.
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand announced Wednesday it would maintain the current stimulatory monetary settings until its inflation and employment targets are met. Following that announcement, the New Zealand dollar jumped around 1% to $0.7305, strengthening further from levels below $0.72 seen earlier this week.
The Australian dollar changed hands at $0.7788, stronger than levels below $0.772 seen earlier in the week.
In other markets
Markets in Singapore were shuttered for holiday.
In Shanghai, the CSI 300 inched up 2.11 points to 5,320.59.
The Kospi index in Korea docked 2.89 points, or 0.1%, to 3,168.43
In Taiwan, the Taiex index gathered 48.02 points, or 0.3%, to 16,643.69
In New Zealand the NZX 50 moved forward 6.25 points, or 0.1%, to 12,347.44
In Australia, the ASX 200 subtracted 22.66 points, or 0.3%, to 7,092.53.
