Asian stocks outside Japan dropped for the first time in three days on concern central banks will reduce stimulus, while the Topix index climbed after the yen weakened. The MSCI Asia Pacific Excluding Japan Index fell 0.3 percent to 455.11 as of 4:10 p.m. in Hong Kong
Nikkei share average rose to a 3-1/2-week closing high on Wednesday on a weaker yen, while Hitachi Ltd jumped after a Nikkei report that it plans to sell Hitachi Koki Co and a portion of Hitachi Kokusai Electric for a total of more than 100 billion yen ($971.44 million). The Nikkei gained 0.5 percent to 16,819.24, the highest closing level since Sept. 9.
Hong Kong stocks posted modest gains in thin trading on Wednesday, outperforming regional markets, lifted by energy shares after an overnight surge in oil prices and helped by some short covering. The benchmark Hang Seng Index rose 0.4 percent at 23,788.31 points while the China Enterprises Index gained 0.6 percent to 9,811.18 points.
Reference: Reuters
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