Asian equity indices are exhibiting mixed trade in early deals on Wednesday, with investors looking for direction after Wall Street ended roughly flat overnight amid a lack of fresh triggers. On the regional front, the Japanese stock market rose as the yen traded near a seven-year low and bonds dropped on speculation a planned sales-tax increase will be delayed. However, the market pared some gains subsequently after the yen came off its lows. Among other markets in the Asia-Pacific region, Hong Kong, Indonesia and South Korea are modestly higher, while Singapore, Shanghai, Malaysia and Taiwan are trading weak.
Nikkei 225 soared 272.22 points or 1.59% to 17,396.33, Hang Seng increased by 296.02 points or 1.25% to 23,998.06, KOSPI Index spurted by 9.93 points or 0.51% to 1,972.93 and Jakarta Composite was up by 26.54 points or 0.53% to 5,058.83.
On the flip side, Straits Times dropped 2.43 points or 0.07% to 3,289.72, Shanghai Composite tumbled by 7.51 points or 0.30% to 2,462.16, FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI declined by 3.55 points or 0.19% to 1,821.56 and Taiwan Weighted was down by 98.27 points or 1.09% to 8,935.87.