Investors assessed Australia’s third-quarter GDP numbers, as well as the Reuters Tankan survey for Japan in December, which showed improving business sentiment among large Japanese manufacturers.
The Tankan survey, done by the Bank of Japan quarterly, measures economic conditions in Japan and the survey results are considered a key economic indicator.
The Reuters monthly poll is considered to be a leading indicator of the BOJ’s official survey.
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Japan’s Nikkei 225 popped 2.04% and closed at 33,445.9, leading gains among major Asian indexes, while the Topix advanced 1.9% and ended the day at 2,387.2.
In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 rose 1.65%, closing at 7,178.4 and at its highest level since September 19.
The country’s economy expanded 2.1% year-on-year in the third quarter, beating expectations from economists polled by Reuters.
South Korea’s Kospi inched up marginally to 2,495.38, while the small-cap Kosdaq climbed 0.76% and finish at 819.54.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index rebounded from a one-year low to climb 0.81% in its final hour of trade, while the mainland Chinese CSI 300 index posted a 0.16% gain and closed at 3,399.59, after hitting fresh four-year lows on Tuesday.
| TICKER | COMPANY | NAME | PRICE | CHANGE | %CHANGE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| .N225 | Nikkei 225 Index | *NIKKEI | 32778.53 | 470.67 | 1.46 |
| .HSI | Hang Seng Index | *HSI | 16032.91 | -301.46 | -1.85 |
| .AXJO | S&P/ASX 200 | *ASX 200 | 7195.5 | 0.6 | 0.01 |
| .SSEC | Shanghai | *SHANGHAI | 2957.8 | -11.76 | -0.4 |
| .KS11 | KOSPI Index | *KOSPI | 2518.6 | 0.75 | 0.03 |
| .FTFCNBCA | CNBC 100 ASIA IDX | *CNBC 100 | 8305.73 | -35.96 | -0.43 |
Overnight in the U.S., the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 slid on Tuesday as a recent rally on Wall Street lost steam.
The 30-stock Dow slid 0.22%, while the S&P 500 inched lower by 0.06%. In contrast, the Nasdaq Composite gained 0.31% to end at 14,229.91 as technology shares outperformed.
— CNBC’s Sarah Min and Alex Harring contributed to this report
WED, DEC 6 202312:32 AM EST
Nikkei 225 leads gains in Asia, powered by commercial services stocks
Japan’s Nikkei 225 led gains in Asia, powered mainly by gains in commercial services and utilities’ stocks.
The index climbed 1.9% on Wednesday, with global printing company Toppan Holdings, the biggest gainer, up 10.67%.
Electric utility Tokyo Electric Power Company, chip equipment supplier Lasertec and conglomerate Sony Group were among the other big advancers.