Asian stock markets closed higher Wednesday.

Tokyo's Nikkei index gained just a fraction of one percent to finish at 8,955.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng index rose nearly one and three-quarters percent to finish the day's trading at 20,535.

Share prices were also higher in Manila, Shanghai, Sydney, Taipei and Wellington.

In currency trading, the dollar was selling at 76.61 yen, a loss of nearly one-fourth of a yen from Tuesday.