• Asian shares gained on Wednesday after Wall Street managed to weather a fresh twist in the controversy over U.S. President Donald Trump's alleged connection with Russia, while investors looked ahead to Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen's comments.
MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan ticked up 0.3 percent.
• Japanese stocks slid on Wednesday in thin trade before Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen's comments later in the day, while exporters were hit by a stronger yen in the wake of a fresh controversy for U.S. President Donald Trump's administration.
The Nikkei shed 0.5 percent to 20,098.38, and the broader Topix dropped 0.5 percent to 1,619.34.
• China stocks reversed earlier gains to end lower on Wednesday, as investors taking part in a big-cap rally seen in recent weeks paused for breath, ahead of Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen's address to congress.
The blue-chip CSI300 index fell 0.3 percent, to 3,658.82 points, while the Shanghai Composite Index shed 0.2percent to 3,197.54 points.
• Hong Kong's benchmark stock index rose for the third straight day on Wednesday to a two-year closing high, bolstered by China fund flows and investors' bargain hunting for blue chips.
The Hang Seng index rose 0.6 percent, to 26,043.64, while the China Enterprises Index gained 1.0 percent, to10,517.37 points.
Referrence: Reuters, CNBC
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