(MENAFN- AFP) Asia's markets mostly rose Wednesday, extending a recent rally, with a weaker yen boosting Tokyo while investors await the release this week of key US data and the Federal Reserve's policy meeting.
The US and Europe's imposition of fresh sanctions on Russia left Wall Street in negative territory, while the euro struggled at eight-month lows against the dollar owing to concerns about the impact of the measures on the eurozone economy.
Tokyo's benchmark Nikkei 225 index gained 28.16 points or 0.18 percent to 15,646.23, boosted by a weak yen and largely upbeat Japanese corporate earnings, as investors shrugged off a weak lead from Wall Street.
The Topix index of all first-section issues went up 0.14 percent, or 1.83 points, to 1,292.24.
Skymark plummeted 13.60 percent to 216 yen after Airbus said it has cancelled a $2.2 billion deal, reportedly over concerns about payment.
The losses add to the 13 percent dive Tuesday when the airline said it was negotiating with Airbus to "revise" the order of six A380 superjumbos signed three years ago.
Automaker Honda rose 3.10 percent to 3,658.0 yen after it boosted its annual profit forecasts Tuesday and said quarterly net profit was up 19.6 percent thanks to a weak yen and growth in global auto sales.
Toyota gained 0.13 percent to 6,141.0 yen after it announced the group's worldwide sales in the first half of 2014 grew 3.8 percent to a record 5.09 million units.
Japan Airlines lost 3.54 percent to 5,710 yen after it said its April-June net profit fell 19.4 percent as a weak yen and soaring fuel costs dug into its results.
In Tokyo, the single currency sank to $1.3402, its lowest since November, while it also bought 136.92 yen against 136.93 yen in New York trade.
Dealers are now awaiting the release of data on US economic growth for the second quarter and jobs creation.
Wednesday will also see the Federal Reserve hold its latest policy meeting.
On oil markets, US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for September delivery gained 52 cents to $101.49, and Brent crude for September was down 47 cents at $107.77 in afternoon trade.
Gold fetched $1,299.90 an ounce by 0810 GMT compared with $1,310.54 late Tuesday.
Sydney added 0.62 percent, or 34.46 points, to close at 5,622.9 and Seoul climbed 1.00 percent, or 20.64 points, to 2,082.61.
Hong Kong rose 0.37 percent, or 91.68 points, to 24,732.21 but Shanghai ended marginally lower, dipping 1.95 points to 2,181.24.
In other markets:
- Taipei added 0.59 percent, or 55.14 points, to 9,447.02.
Hon Hai fell 0.48 percent to Tw$104.5 while Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. rose 0.4 percent to Tw$124.5.
- Wellington slipped 0.14 percent, or 7.00 points, to 5,158.55.
Telecom was down 2.63 percent at NZ$2.77 and Contact Energy rose 0.18 percent to NZ$5.52.
- Manila closed 0.25 percent higher, adding 17.12 points to 6,867.59.
Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. gained 1.59 percent to 3,070 pesos and Metropolitan Bank and Trust fell 0.41 percent to 85.30 pesos.
- Jakarta was closed for a public holiday.
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