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Hong Kong - Asian markets were mostly higher on Wednesday, with a rally on Wall Street giving Tokyo and Hong Kong some impetus to claw back some of the losses they suffered in the previous session.
However, the dollar slipped against the the yen as investors remain on edge about the global economy following a string of disappointing economic data and the Federal Reserve's decision to reduce its stimulus programme.
Tokyo's Nikkei, which slumped more than 4% on Tuesday, rose 0.38% by the break - boosted by a surge in computer giant Panasonic after it said it had swung back into profit.
Hong Kong added 0.80% and Seoul climbed 0.57% but Sydney eased 0.15%.
Shanghai was closed for a public holiday.
Markets around the world have been sent into a tailspin in recent days following worse than expected manufacturing activity data form China and the United States suggesting softness in the global economy.
But Wall Street's three main indexes, which each saw losses of more than 2% at the start of the week, rebounded slightly on Tuesday on bargain buying and solid corporate results, including from fast food giant Yum Foods and fashion retailer Michael Kors.
The Dow rose 0.47%, the S&P 500 added 0.76% and the Nasdaq climbed 0.86%.
Eyes are now on the release on Friday of crucial US non-farm payrolls data, which will give investors a better handle on the state of the world's number two economy.
Last month's results showing the number of jobs created in December was less than half that expected jolted markets as it suggested the economy was not as strong as expected just as the Fed began tapering its bond-buying stimulus.
On currency markets the dollar fell to ¥101.50 from ¥101.64 in New York Tuesday. The greenback is well down from the five-year highs above ¥105 touched at the start of the year.
The euro bought $1.3522 and ¥137.30 against $1.3515 and ¥137.36.
Despite the stronger yen Japanese shares were higher, bolstered by a 16% jump in Panasonic.
The electronics firm - recovering from combined losses topping $15bn in the past two fiscal years - said on Tuesday its nine-month net earnings came in at ¥243.0bn, reversing a net loss of ¥623.8bn over the same period a year ago.
Oil prices rose. New York's main contract, West Texas Intermediate for March delivery, gained 40 cents to $97.59 in early Asian trading while Brent North Sea crude for March was up 13 cents at $105.91.
Gold fetched $1 254.75 an ounce at 04:45, compared with $1 253.47 late on Tuesday.
