Japan's Nikkei average rose 0.4 percent on Wednesday with exporters such as Honda Motor Co Ltd higher on a softening yen and after U.S. shares finished at record highs on interest rate cut hopes.

As of 0001 GMT, the benchmark Nikkei was up 71.24 points at 17,231.14. The broader TOPIX index climbed 0.6 percent or 10.50 points to 1,670.56.

Nikkei 225 Japan