Japan's Nikkei average rose on Wednesday to its highest close since mid-April, with exporters up on a fall in the yen while firms that felt the weight of higher oil prices such as Bridgestone Corp gained ground. Oil prices fell nearly 4 percent in New York after hitting an all-time high earlier this week, prompting selling of resource-related stocks such as AOC Holdings Inc but a rebound in tyre makers, airlines and shipping firms.
The Nikkei was up 0.55 percent or 63.61 points at 11,577.44, its highest close since April 13.
The broader TOPIX index was also up 0.55 percent at 1,176.48.
But activity was somewhat curbed as many investors were holding back for key economic events this week, including a Federal Reserve meeting and the Bank of Japan's quarterly "tankan" survey of corporate sentiment.
"A fall in crude oil contributed the most (to Japanese shares) today," said Norihiro Fujito, a senior investment strategist at Mitsubishi Securities.
"Oil has been the biggest concern not only in Japan but across the markets. The Tokyo market is a bit short-sighted and was initially bracing for the tankan survey, but Treasuries and Bonds are looking at the impact of high oil prices on their economies in the months and years ahead," he said.
US crude was little changed in Asia after ending New York at $58.20 a barrel on Tuesday, off a record at $60.95 marked the previous day.
Gas and oil project developer AOC sank 3.7 percent to 1,627 yen and refiner Nippon Oil Corp lost 1.2 percent to 751 yen. But Bridgestone, Japan's biggest tyre maker, was up 1.7 percent at 2,110 yen. Trade volume shot up to 1.77 billion shares, exceeding last year's daily average of 1.45 billion for the first time since June 20. But trade focused on volatile low-priced stocks, resulting in a moderate turnover of 1.14 trillion yen. Advancers outnumbered decliners 919 to 565.
Hiroshi Arano, managing director at Dai-Ichi Kangyo Asset Management, said he paid little attention to day-to-day oil price movements, and instead looked to data which suggests the impact of oil prices on the economy is as light as some had been hoping.
There has been little sign of inflation in the United States, the world's biggest energy consumer, and only a limited number of industries such as auto and airlines seem at risk of having their profits hit by higher energy costs, he said.
"Despite a run-up in oil to $60, people in the markets are not making a fuss at all, compared with the time it cleared $40," Arano said. "It seems Tokyo is preparing for a summer rally ... We only need data which gives us a positive surprise."
Among exporters, Sony Corp rose 1.1 percent to 3,820 yen, recovering from a five-month closing low the previous day.
Ibiden Co Ltd, a maker of printed circuit boards, climbed 4.1 percent to a record high 2,940 yen after UFJ Tsubasa Securities revised up its earnings forecasts due to the weaker yen and strong sales to Intel Corp.