Tokyo — Japanese shares led Asian markets higher after a weak start on Wednesday, with Japanese export-focused companies attracting investors as the dollar gained against the yen thanks to US treasury debt yields hovering near highs not seen in four years. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan took early cues from overnight losses on Wall Street and lost 0.1% before rising 0.5%. Australian stocks added 0.1% and South Korea’s Kospi gained 0.3%. Japan’s Nikkei recovered from an early slip to rise 0.65%. The Nikkei has gained in five out of the past 10 sessions, recovering from a four-month low amid turmoil in global markets. US equities pulled back sharply from record highs earlier this month as a steady rise in treasury yields raised the concern that the Federal Reserve could increase interest rates more frequently this year than initially expected. "Market instability is likely to persist until the Fed’s policy meeting in March," said Hiroaki Kuramochi, chief ma...
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