Asia-Pacific markets traded mixed Tuesday after starting the week by struggling for gains in what some analysts have described as a fragile environment for stocks.
The Nikkei 225 recovered 284.69 points, or 1%, to 29,027.94. Banking and auto shares in Japan broadly rose as names like of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, added 1.8% Toyota added 2.9%, and Honda finished up 3.7%.
The Japanese yen changed hands at 109.01 per U.S. dollar, weakening from an earlier level around 108.85.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng sprang back up again 232.4 points, or 0.8%, to 28,773.23.
In Korea, tech shares wavered between gains and losses: Samsung fell 0.7%, chipmaker SK Hynix reversed earlier losses and closed up 0.7%, while search engine operator Naver tumbled 1.9%. LG Electronics rose 1.1%.
Australian markets finished on the plus side. The heavily-weighted financials sub-index advanced 1% as major banking names rose. ANZ shares closed up 1.3%, Commonwealth Bank added 0.7%, Westpac rose 0.7% and National Australia Bank was up 0.8%.
The Australian dollar gained 0.26% to $0.7669.
In other markets
In China, the CSI 300 subtracted 109.02 points, or 2.2%, to 4,971.
In Taiwan, the Taiex restocked 32.98 points, or 0.2%, to 15,853.09.
In Korea, the Kospi index sank 19.99 points, or 0.7%, to 2,976.12.
In Singapore, the Straits Times index improved 37.37 points, or 1.2%, to 3,108.53
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 regained 59.97 points, or 0.5%, to 12,145.15.
In Australia, the ASX 200 progressed 31.59 points, or 0.5%, to 6,771.16.