Asian shares mostly rebound from huge sell-off

Asian markets were mostly higher on Wednesday, with a rally on Wall Street giving Tokyo and Hong Kong some impetus to claw back some of the losses they suffered in the previous session. However, the dollar slipped against the the yen as investors remain on edge about the global economy following a string of disappointing economic data and the Federal Reserve's decision to reduce its stimulus programme. Tokyo's Nikkei, which slumped more than four percent on Tuesday, rose 0.38 percent by the break -- boosted by a surge in computer giant Panasonic after it said it had swung back into profit. Hong Kong added 0.80 percent and Seoul climbed 0.57 percent but Sydney eased 0.15 percent. Shanghai was closed for a public holiday. Markets around the world have been sent into a tailspin in recent days following worse than expected manufacturing activity data form China and the United States suggesting softness in the global economy. But Wall Street's three main indexes, which each saw losses of more than two percent at the start of the week, rebounded slightly Tuesday on bargain buying and solid corporate results, including from fast food giant Yum Foods and fashion retailer Michael Kors. The Dow rose 0.47 percent, the S&P 500 added 0.76 percent and the Nasdaq climbed 0.86 percent, according to AFP.