Asian markets close midweek on high note

By Tuba Sahin

ANKARA (AA) - Asian stock exchanges closed Wednesday on a high note ahead of key US inflation data.

Consumer prices in the US due to be announced on Thursday is expected to rise 7.3% year-on-year in January.

The Asia Dow, which includes blue-chip companies in the region, surged 1.51%, or 56.5 points, to 3,790.14 at 1020GMT.

Tokyo's Nikkei 225 stock exchange rose 1.08%, or 295.35 points, to 27,579.87. China's Shanghai Stock Exchange gained 0.79%, or 27.32 points, to close Wednesday at 3,479.95 points.

Hang Seng, the benchmark for blue-chip stocks trading on the Hong Kong stock exchange, posted the largest increase at the midweek close, jumping 2.06%, or 500.50 points, to 24,830.

The Indian Sensex benchmark climbed 1.14%, or 657.4 points, to close at 58,465.97. The Singapore index also rose 0.54%, or 18.30 points, to reach 3,420.04.