Asian stocks ended mostly higher Wednesday, with Japanese shares advancing for a third straight session as exporters were boosted by weakness in the yen
The Nikkei 225 index continued its win streak, adding 49.62 points, or 0.5%, to 10,731.45.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index jumped another 137.09 points, or 0.6%, to 22,416.67.
Exporters were higher in Tokyo as the yen weakened, with Canon rising 1.4% and Sony adding 0.9%, while Toyota Motor Corp. rose 2.5% following upbeat U.S. sales figures for December.
Nintendo surged 7.3% after it said sales of its popular Wii game console rebounded in December and would likely exceed three million units in the month.
Exporters also recorded gains in Seoul. Hynix Semiconductor jumped 5.1%, Samsung Electronics added 2.3% and Kia Motors added 1%.
Mining and metal stocks were boosted by stronger metals prices recently, with BHP Billiton rising 1.3% and Rio Tinto climbing 2.9% in Sydney, while Yunnan Copper added 1% in Shenzhen.
Shares of Qantas Airways shares fell 0.3% on mild profit-taking, reversing gains that it logged earlier in the session following news that the company's discount carrier JetStar has formed an alliance with Malaysian counterpart AirAsia, aimed at cutting costs and reducing air fares.
In Singapore, Genting Singapore shares fell 0.8% in afternoon trading despite news that the company's Resorts World Sentosa casino-resort would open on January 20.
In foreign exchange markets, the yen weakened against major currencies amid reports Japanese Finance Minister Hirohisa Fujii wants to step down due to ill health.
The U.S. dollar was buying 92.12 yen from 91.72 yen in late New York trade Tuesday while the euro was at $1.4331 from $1.4358 U.S., and at 132.04 yen from 131.74 yen.
Elsewhere;
The Shanghai 300 Composite Index subtracted 22.31 points, or 0.6%, to 3,541.73.
Korea’s Kospi Index regained 14.70 points, or 0.9%, to 1,705.32
Taiwan’s Taiex index rallied 116.22 points, or 1.4%, to 8,327.62
Singapore’s Straits Times index tacked on 10.21 points, or 0.4%, to 2,930.49
New Zealand’s NZX Index gained 3.38 points to 3,271.57.
Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 slipped 2.90 points to 4,921.40.
