Major Asian stock markets closed mostly higher Wednesday.

Tokyo's Nikkei index rose just over one and one-half percent to finish at 9,797.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng index closed at 22,061, virtually unchanged from Tuesday.

Share prices were higher in Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Mumbai, Seoul, Singapore, Sydney and Taipei, but lower in Manila, Shanghai and Wellington. The index in Jakarta was closed.

In currency trading, the dollar was selling at 81.09, a loss of a fraction of a yen from Tuesday.

Gold is trading at $1,509.98 an ounce.