Asian Markets Update: Nasdaq Surge Helps Tech Shares Bounce Back

TOKYO -- Asian stock markets ended Wednesday mixed, but a surging Nasdaq Composite Index helped the region's technology shares higher.

In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 closed up 139.1 points, or 1%, at 14,799.1 and the Topix index, which includes all shares listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, rose 12.9, or 0.9%, to 1402.1.

NEC (NIPNY Quote) rose 50 yen, or 2.4%, to 2170 ($20.06), TDK (TDK Quote) closed up 270 yen, or 2.4%, to 11,440 and technology bellwether Sony (SNE Quote) rose 50 yen, or 0.6%, to 8520.

NTT DoCoMo (NTDMY Quote) jumped 170,000 yen, or 6%, to 3.01 million, after the wireless phone operator's first-half results showed surging profits.

Carmaker Toyota (TM Quote) slipped 50 yen, or 1.2%, to 4290, ahead of reporting its own earnings released after the market closed.

The dollar traded at 108.18 yen from 107.70 yen Tuesday.

Elsewhere, Hong Kong's Hang Seng index fell 50.1, or 0.3%, to 15,127.4. China Mobile (CHL Quote) rose HK$0.40, or 0.8%, to 49.90 ($6.40) and HSBC (HBC Quote) fell HK$1.00, or 0.9%, to 112.50.

Taiwan's TWSE index also fell, dipping 35.5 points, or 0.6%, to 5737.0.

South Korea's Kospi index rose 4.5, or 0.8%, to 557.5, as SK Telecom (SKM Quote) rose 4,500 won, or 1.7%, to 267,000 ($234.42) and rival Korea Telecom (KTC Quote) closed down 1,700 won, or 2.4%, at 69,200.