Japan’s Nikkei average went up 240.29 to 16949.19, while the broader Topix rose 23.08 points to 1383.31.
South Korean shares bounded up early on Wednesday, helped by an overnight bounce on Wall Street and in crude oil prices while retail investors scrambled for bargains but gains were capped by weak China stocks and the pending outcome of a U.S. Federal Reserve meeting.
The Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) was up 0.7 percent at 1,1884.61 points as of 0213 GMT after rising as much as 1.6 percent earlier.
Chinese shares struggled on Wednesday after plunging in the previous session, taking little comfort from a rise in global markets, though sentiment is fragile ahead of a policy statement later from the U.S. Federal Reserve.
The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index opened up slightly but then quickly turned tail and was down 0.4 percent by 0150 GMT. On Tuesday (January 26), it tumbled 6.4 percent to its lowest close since Dec. 1, 2014.
The CSI300 index of the largest listed companies in Shanghai and Shenzhen also attempted to move higher at first before dropping 0.3 percent.
Hong Kong markets gained upon opening on Wednesday (January 27) after suffering from a 2.5 percent drop and tumbling down the 19000-mark on Tuesday (January 26).
The benchmark Hang Seng Index rose 1.78 percent at 19197.15 on Wednesday.
Australian stocks could open higher following a rebound on Wall Street and with energy firms set to benefit from a jump in oil prices.
Stock index futures rose 1.1 percent to 4,953, but were still at a 53.6-point discount to the close of the underlying S&P/ASX 200 index. The benchmark closed 1.8 percent higher in the last session, ahead of a public holiday on Tuesday (January 26). (Reuters)
