Asian shares tick up after sell-off

Asia's markets rose on Tuesday following big losses in the previous session but investors were largely unmoved by the Bank of Japan's decision to stand pat on its stimulus programme. The gains came despite a negative lead from Wall Street, while the dollar and euro edged up slightly against the yen. Tokyo's benchmark Nikkei index added 0.69 percent, or 103.97 points, to 15,224.11, while the Topix index of all first-section shares added 0.46 percent, or 5.60 points, to 1,233.21. Traders picked up bargains after the index suffered a sell-off Monday in response to a downward revision of 2013 economic growth as well as disappointing Chinese trade data. "The BoJ decision little affected the market as there was no surprise from its statement," said Katsuhiro Kondo, a broker with Tokai Tokyo Securities. "But trading sentiment remains strong as investors here are still interested in buying stocks on dips," said Kondo. Honda Motor was 2.89 percent higher at 3,840 yen, while rival Toyota gained 0.36 percent to 5,842 yen. Panasonic fell 1.07 percent to 1,287 yen but Tokyo Electron was up 1.00 percent at 6,212 yen. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index edged up 4.68 points to 22,269.61, the Shanghai Composite Index rose 2.09 points to 2,001.16 and the Shenzhen Composite Index crept up 0.24 points to 1,064.30 on turnover of 103.3 billion yuan. In Hong Kong, Internet firm Tencent rose 0.16 percent to HK$617.50, while HSBC eased 0.12 percent to HK$80.35. China Mobile was up 0.14 percent at HK$71.15 and energy giant CNOOC sank 2.65 percent to HK$11.76. In China, liquor and cement firms were among the biggest gainers, with Shanghai Jinfeng Wine up 5.53 percent at 8.78 yuan and Anhui Conch Cement rising 1.83 percent to 14.45 yuan. The Seoul market climbed 0.48 percent, or 9.56 points, to close at 1,963.87 and Sydney was flat, edging up 2.3 points to 5,413.8. The dollar was quoted at 103.30 yen in the afternoon, against 103.26 yen in New York Monday, while the euro fetched 143.30 yen compared with 143.28 yen. The single currency was also quoted at $1.3865 against $1.3875. Oil prices edged up. New York's main contract, West Texas Intermediate for April delivery, was up 18 cents at $101.09 101.30 and Brent North Sea crude for April rose one cent to $108.09. Gold fetched $1,348.55 an ounce at 1050 GMT compared with $1,339.80 late Monday. In other markets: -- Singapore closed up 0.09 percent, or 2.77 points, at 3,129.40. DBS bank eased 0.31 percent to Sg$16.05, while oil rig maker Keppel Corp rose 1.13 percent to Sg$10.76. -- Kuala Lumpur's main stock index gained 0.36 percent, or 6.49 points, to 1,828.55. Telekom Malaysia added 0.2 percent to 5.92 ringgit, while utility Tenaga Nasional was up 0.2 percent to 11.96. Budget carrier AirAsia lost 0.4 percent to 2.51 ringgit. -- Bangkok rose 1.13 percent or 15.23 points to 1,364.28. Coal producer Banpu fell 1.92 percent to 25.50 baht while Bangkok Bank rose 1.15 percent to 176.50 baht. -- Jakarta ended up 0.58 percent, or 26.97 points, at 4,704.21. State miner Aneka Tambang rose 1.36 percent to 1,115 rupiah, while conglomerate Astra International lost 0.34 percent to 7,250 rupiah. -- Mumbai fell 0.49 percent or 108.41 points to end at 21,826.42 points. Tata Steel shed 5.52 percent to 344.15 rupees per share and Financial Technologies fell 4.99 percent to 382.60 rupees per share. -- Taipei rose 0.43 percent, or 37.09 points, to 8,702.33. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. rose 0.88 percent to Tw$114.0 while Hon Hai fell 0.47 percent to Tw$84.2. -- Wellington fell 0.31 percent, or 15.90 points, to 5,101.94. Fletcher Building slipped 1.7 percent to NZ$9.69 and telecoms firm Chorus added 0.6 percent to to NZ$1.57. -- Manila added 0.65 percent, or 42.35 points, to 6,529.58.