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Asian markets were higher on Wednesday, as Wall Street rose on the back of strong US earnings announcements and on anticipation for U.S. President Donald Trump's tax reforms.
Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 index jumped 1.1 percent at 19,289.43. South Korea's Kospi was up 0.68 percent to close at 2,207.84. Australia's ASX 200 gained 0.68 percent at 5,912.
Markets in China were in positive territory. The Shanghai Composite advanced 0.2 percent at 3,140.8471 and the Shenzhen Composite added 0.368 percent at 1,889.7872. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index climbed 0.58 percent.
Among shares active on corporate news, Japan Post Holdings posted a $3.6 billion writedown on its Australian logistics unit, Toll Holdings. The firm estimated losses of 40 billion yen ($362.35 million). Stocks of Japan Post rose 1.16 percent at 1,393 per stock.
According to the Nikkei, Toshiba said it will separate with its auditor PricewaterhouseCoopers Aarata. The auditor did not endorse the Japanese conglomerate's third quarter earnings released earlier this month. Shares of Toshiba gained 2.27 percent at 220.9 yen per stock.
BHP Billiton reduced its production targets for iron ore, coking coal, and copper, citing poor weather in Australia and strikes at the Escondida mine in Chile. Shares of the miner climbed 0.58 percent to close at A$24.08 per stock.
