Asian stock markets churned on Wednesday, as traders again weighed gyrating tech-sector values and Persian Gulf uncertainties.
Shanghai and Tokyo finished in the green, while Hong Kong was closed on holiday. Other regional exchanges were choppy, including a 2% retreat on South Korea's KOSPI index.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 finished up 0.6% as traders backed AI- and semiconductor-related issues.
The benchmark Nikkei 225 rose 412.64 to 70,474.96, although losing issues outnumbered gainers 127 to 95.
Leading the upside was silicon wafer maker Sumco, up 11.4%, while Furukawa Electric declined 8%.
In economic news, confidence among major Japanese manufacturers in June improved to the highest level in eight years, as demand for chips and AI-related gadgets offset risks posed by Persian Gulf turmoils, reported the Bank of Japan, citing its quarterly Tankan survey.
The confidence sentiment index for large manufacturers rose to 22 in Q2, from 17 in Q1, said Japan's central bank.
The confidence index for large non-manufacturers, including the service sector, logged at 37 for Q2, up from 36 in Q1, according to the Bank of Japan.
On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite rose 0.4% to 4,112.45.
In economic news, China's final manufacturing purchasing managers index (PMI) inched down to 51.7 in June from 51.8 in May, but still stuck above the 50-mark that separates growth from contraction, reported S&P Global.
On the other regional exchanges, the Taiwan TWSE rose 1.9%; the Australian ASX 200 declined 0.6%; the Singapore Straits Times Index fell 0.2%, and the Thai Set declined 0.2%. In late trading in Mumbai, the Sensex was up 0.5%.
In economic news, South Korean exports surged 70.9% on the year to a record monthly high of $102.25 billion in June, led by a surge in semiconductor shipments, reported the Ministry of Trade, Industry & Energy.
The MSCI All Country Asia Pacific Index fell 0.1% on the day.
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