TOKYO – Japan's benchmark advanced but other Asian shares fell Wednesday amid uncertainty over the coronavirus outbreak, which continues to claim more lives around the world.
Japan's Nikkei 225 jumped 2.1% to finish at 19,353.24. Stronger than expected machinery orders helped lift sentiment. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 shed nearly 0.9% to 5,206.90, while South Korea's Kospi lost 0.3% to 1,817.74.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng fell 1.3% to 23,927.49 and the Shanghai Composite dipped 0.5% to 2,807.83. A short-lived rally on Wall Street suddenly vanished in a market dominated by sharp swings responding to the ups and downs of the news about the pandemic. “The recent risk rally faded quickly despite recent stimulus efforts from both monetary and fiscal