Asian shares and the dollar were on tenterhooks on Tuesday as investors awaited the looming outcome of the Federal Reserve's rates review, with all eyes on how the Fed steers monetary policy in the wake of Republican Donald Trump's surprise election win last month.
MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS edged down 0.1 percent, while Japan's Nikkei stock index .N225 was off early lows but still down 0.2 percent by midday as the dollar came off overnight highs against the yen.
The Nikkei rose 0.5 percent to 19,250.52, its highest close since Dec. 30 of last year. The broader Topix gained 0.6 percent to 1,540.25.
China stocks erased early losses to end roughly flat on Tuesday, as better-than expected November retail sales and factory output data encouraged bargain-hunting after the previous session's slump.
The blue-chip CSI300 index fell 0.1 percent, to 3,405.04 points, while the Shanghai Composite Index rose 0.1 percent to 3,155.04 points.
Hong Kong stocks steadied after a tumble the previous day, though some investors stayed on the sidelines ahead of a U.S. Federal Reserve policy meeting starting later on Tuesday.
In the afternoon, stocks clawed back Tuesday morning losses and eked out a marginal gain for the day.
The benchmark Hang Seng index added 0.1 percent, to 22,446.70 points, while the Hong Kong China Enterprises Index inched up 0.2 percent, to 9,719.94 points.
Reference: Reuters
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