Japanese markets closed slightly higher Wednesday, while the U.S. dollar is trading lower against the Japanese yen.

Tokyo's Nikkei index gained a fraction of one percent to finish at 8,616.

In currency trading, the dollar was selling at 76.54 yen, a loss of just over one-quarter of a yen from Tuesday.

The Taipei market ended the day's trading session at 7,147, a gain of nearly one percent .