Asian stock markets turned positive Wednesday, as petroleum prices cooled, and tech issues regained favor. Traders also awaited the US Federal Reserve's latest rate decision due later in the day.
Brent crude oil futures eased 1.1% to $107.60 a barrel during Asian market hours.
Hong Kong, Shanghai and Tokyo finished in the green, as did most other regional exchanges.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 opened evenly and closed up 0.7% on renewed interest in AI- and semiconductor-related issues. The yen eased against the US dollar, undergirding export issues.
The benchmark Nikkei 225 rose 438.9 to 63,923, as gaining issues outnumbered losers 151 to 70.
Leading the upside was oil company Eneos, up 5%, while online consumer-to-consumer marketplace Mercari declined 6.4%.
In economic news, Japan's exports grew 19% year over year in August, while imports jumped 28%, the latter due in part to higher energy bills.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index opened lower, but gained in the afternoon, closing up 0.2% as traders regained optimism regarding tech issues.
The broad gauge Hang Seng rose 46.54 to 24,713.78 as gaining issues outnumbered losers 50 to 44. The Hang Seng TECH Index increased 0.8% on the day, as did the Mainland Properties Index.
Leading the upside was computer-maker Lenovo, rising 8.3%, while battery-maker Contemporary Amperex Technology fell 2.9%.
On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite rose 0.7% to 3,891.60.
On the other regional exchanges, the S. Korean KOSPI rose 1.4%; the Taiwan TWSE inclined 0.4%; the Australian ASX 200 advanced 0.3%; the Singapore Straits Times Index fell 0.1%, and the Thai Set declined 1%. In late trading in Mumbai, the Sensex was up 0.4%.
The MSCI All Country Asia Pacific Index rose 0.6% on the day.
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