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Asian shares recover from steep losses Asian shares bounce back from losses
(about 5 hours later)
Asian markets headed mostly higher on Wednesday, recovering from the previous session's steep losses as investors' tried to regain confidence. Asian markets headed higher on Wednesday, recovering from the previous session's steep losses, despite disappointing economic news from Japan.
Japan's Nikkei 225 index led the region's gains, up 2.1% at 17,291.86 after losing more than 4% on Tuesday. Japan's Nikkei 225 led the region's gains, closing up 2.7% at 17,388.15, after losing more than 4% on Tuesday.
Investors ignored data that showed factory output shrank unexpectedly by 0.5% in August from July, while retail sales also fell short of expectations. Investors ignored data that showed Japanese factory output shrank by 0.5% in August from July, and retail sales also fell short of expectations.
Investors are awaiting the Bank of Japan's business confidence survey.Investors are awaiting the Bank of Japan's business confidence survey.
The central bank's quarterly Tankan survey due on Thursday is expected to show that business sentiment worsened in the three months to September.The central bank's quarterly Tankan survey due on Thursday is expected to show that business sentiment worsened in the three months to September.
Marcel Thieliant, economist at Capital Economics said the second consecutive drop in industrial production in August suggested that Japan's economy shrank again in the quarter that ends in September. Marcel Thieliant, an economist at Capital Economics, said the second consecutive drop in industrial production in August suggested that Japan's economy shrank again in the quarter that ends in September.
"Additional easing by the Bank of Japan next month looks all but inevitable," he said in a note."Additional easing by the Bank of Japan next month looks all but inevitable," he said in a note.
Shares in Japan Tobacco fell 6.7% on concerns that it has paid too much to buy the rights for Reynolds American's Natural American Spirit tobacco brand outside the US for 600bn yen ($5bn).
Factory data aheadFactory data ahead
Chinese shares opened higher as investors looked ahead to key manufacturing surveys on Thursday for evidence on the extent of the slowdown in the economy. Chinese shares headed higher as investors looked ahead to key manufacturing surveys on Thursday for the latest snapshot on the health of the economy.
The closely-watched purchasing managers' index (PMI) is likely to show the country's factory sector shrank for the second month in a row in September. The closely-watched purchasing managers' index (PMI) is expected to show the country's factory sector shrank for the second month in a row in September.
The Shanghai Composite was up 0.5% at 3,052.34, Hong Kong's Hang Seng index was 1% at 20,760.95 points. The Shanghai Composite rose 1% to 3,068.23, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng index climbed 1.7% to 20,911.47.
Australia's benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index was up 1% at 4,965.30 after hitting a two-year low on Tuesday. Australia's benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index closed up 2.1% at 5,021.60 after hitting a two-year low on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, South Korea's Kopsi index was down 0.8% at 1,927.11 as it reopened for the first time this week after public holidays. Meanwhile, South Korea's Kopsi index ended up 1% to 1,962.91 as it reopened following public holidays.