TOKYO – Asian shares were mostly higher ahead of Joe Biden's inauguration as U.S. president Wednesday, though worries about surging coronavirus cases sapped the Japanese market's early gains.Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 slipped 0.4% to finish at 28,523.26.
Australia's S&P/ASX 200 added 0.4% to 6,770.40, while South Korea's Kospi edged up 0.6% to 3,112.03. Hong Kong's Hang Seng added 0.7% to 29,835.04, while the Shanghai Composite rose 0.1% to 3,570.40.
Hopes are growing that Biden’s planned stimulus for the American economy as well as measures to curb the pandemic will boost regional markets.