Asian shares end higher on US earnings

Asian shares ended higher on Thursday as enhanced corporate profits from U.S. bellwethers relieved worries of a slowdown in earnings, mainly for the besieged tech sector. However Korea's KOSPI rebounded sharply from losses in the previous session nearly despite a fall in banking shares that were hit by news that local banks were being probed by authorities investigating how a key interest rate has been set. Meanwhile Japan's Nikkei erased some of its gains as investors were cautious that a firmer yen would pressure exporters such as car makers and electronics manufacturers. Shanghai shares ended higher for the third consecutive day, boosted by strength in China's two biggest insurers as bourse volume jumped to the second-highest since June 4.