Asian Markets Update: Most Major Indices Gain Despite Uncertain U.S. Election

TOKYO -- Most Asian stock markets ended higher Wednesday, as the outcome of U.S. presidential election remained uncertain. While Japan, South Korea and Taiwan all rose, Hong Kong, which closes later, finished lower.

In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 closed up 59.3 points, or 0.4%, at 15,399.6 and the Topix index, which includes all shares listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, rose 1.0, or 0.1%, to 1453.6.

Japanese technology shares rallied, as Sony (SNE Quote) rose 90 yen, or 1%, to 9,230 ($86.23), Fujitsu (FJTSY Quote) rose 35 yen, or 1.7%, to 2,160 and TDK (TDK Quote) ended up 320 yen, or 2.9%, at 11,300.

Telcos, however, helped cap the Nikkei's gains, as wireless operator NTT DoCoMo (NTDMY Quote) fell 20,000 yen, or 0.7%, to 3.08 million and Nippon Telegraph & Telephone (NTT Quote) closed down 16,000 yen, or 1.6%, at 979,000.

The dollar traded at 107.04 yen, down from 107.46 yen Tuesday.

Elsewhere, South Korea's Kospi index rose 4.8, or 0.9%, to 558.1, as financial shares offset losses by some of the country's leading tech stocks.

Taiwan's TWSE index continued its rally from Monday, surging 190.2, or 3.2%, to 6067.9. Taiwanese stocks jumped after Morgan Stanley Capital International increased the country's weighting for the country in its indices. Chipmaker United Microelectronics(UMC Quote) rose 2.3% to TWD$67.00 ($2.08).

Hong Kong's Hang Seng index fell 166.7, or 1.1%, to close at 15,654.1, as heavyweight China Mobile (CHL Quote) fell HK$1.25, or 2.3%, to 52.50 ($6.73) and bank HSBC (HBC Quote) dropped HK$1.00, or 1%, to 115.50.