Hong Kong - Asian markets were mixed on Thursday as a positive report on the US economy and the Federal Reserve chief's pledge to keep interest rates at record lows were offset by profit-taking after the previous day's gains.
Wall Street provided another positive lead, with the technology-weighted Nasdaq leading a third-straight rally after last week's heavy sell-off.
Tokyo was 0.36% lower at the break, Hong Kong rose 0.35%, Sydney added 0.54%t, Shanghai dipped 0.11% and Seoul shed 0.13%.
Regional shares enjoyed buying on Wednesday after China released data showing its economy expanded more than expected in the first three months of the year.
In the United States the Fed said in its closely watched Beige book report that the US economy was showing clear signs of picking up again after being caught by a severe winter freeze that jolted spending and jobs growth.
"Economic activity increased in most regions" of the country since the early March report, it said, with "modest or moderate" expansion in most of the Fed regions surveyed.
The report will be used in the bank's next policy meeting on April 29-30, where policy makers will decide what to do with its multibillion-dollar stimulus programme.
Separately, Fed boss Janet Yellen said it still believed there was a need to keep ultra-low rates well into next year and saw no threat from inflation.
Wall Street was cheered by the news. The Dow rose 1.00% and the S&P 500 surged 1.05%. The Nasdaq - which was hammered last week on fears tech stocks may be overvalued - jumped 1.29%, with further help from a strong earnings report from Yahoo.
The Yellen comments initially saw the dollar rise further against the yen in New York but in Asia the Japanese unit recovered on Thursday.
In early trade the dollar was worth ¥101.9, against ¥102.25 in New York on Wednesday, while the euro fetched $1.3836 and ¥141.20 compared with $1.3815 and ¥141.2.
On oil markets New York's main contract, West Texas Intermediate for May delivery, was up 35 cents at $104.11 in early Asian trade trade and Brent North Sea crude for June gained 6c to $109.66.
Gold fetched $1 300.93 an ounce at 02:30 GMT, from $1 303.30 late on Wednesday.