Asian shares mixed after Wall St gains

Asian shares were mixed Wednesday after a wobbly day of trading on Wall Street, and uncertainty loomed as investors looked toward the G-20 meeting of world leaders later in the week.

Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 rose 0.9 per cent in morning trading to 22,140.95, while Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 edged down 0.2 per cent to 5,717.50.

South Korea’s Kospi was little changed, inching down to 2,098.23. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng added 0.6 per cent to 26,498.33, while the Shanghai Composite gained 0.3 per cent to 2,581.64.

Southeast Asian benchmarks were also mixed, with shares down in the Philippines but higher in Indonesia, reports AP.

The S&P 500 index rose 8.72 points, or 0.3 per cent, to 2,682.17. The index jumped 1.6 per cent Monday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 108.49 points, or 0.4 per cent, to 24,748.73.

The Nasdaq composite inched up 0.85 points to 7,082.80 after surging 2.1 per cent a day earlier.

Benchmark US crude rose 33 cents to $51.80 per barrel. It fell 0.1 per cent to $51.56 a barrel in New York Tuesday. Brent crude, the international standard, added 34 cents to $60.74 a barrel.

The dollar edged up to 113.80 yen from 113.48 yen late Tuesday in Asia. The euro felt to $1.1292 from $1.1340.