Asian stocks rebounded on Thursday following a small rise in the U.S. Dow Jones index, although worries about the global economy kept a lid on gains.
The FTSE CNBC Asia 100 Index [.FTFCNBCA 5820.14 20.42 (+0.35%)], which measures markets across Asia, climbed 0.2 percent.
Japan's Nikkei share average rebounded from a seven-week low, tracking the gains seen on the Dow.
The Nikkei [.N225 8393.33 27.43 (+0.33%) ] rose 0.4 percent to 8,399.03 after having dropped 1.4 percent on Wednesday. The broader Topix index rose 0.4 percent to 709.33.
Canon shares sank 7.7 percent after it cut its full-year operating profit outlook to 390 billion yen ($5 billion) from a previously forecast 450 billion yen on Wednesday, buffeted by a euro zone crisis which sent the yen climbing while sapping demand from a key export market.
Seoul shares nudged up near the opening bell to recover from a seven-month low hit in the previous session, although gains are likely to be capped by worries of a deepening debt crisis in the euro zone and sluggish global growth.
In economic news, South Korea's economy grew 0.4 percent in the April-June period over the prior quarter, the central bank's advance estimates showed on Thursday, just below the market consensus.
KB Financial shares were up 1.1 percent after its board members decided on Wednesday not to bid for the government's 6 trillion won ($5.21 billion) controlling stake in Woori Finance.
The Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) [.KS11 1777.01 7.70 (+0.44%) ] was up 0.3 percent at 1,775.11 points.
Australian stocks were flat with a slight upside bias. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index [AU;XJO 4139.60 15.70 (+0.38%)] was up 0.4 points to 4,124.4. The index had risen 0.2 percent on Wednesday.
In early news, Newcrest Mining, the world's No.3 gold producer, met its revised full-year production guidance. Its stock jumped 5.2 percent.
Wesfarmers shares slipped 0.5 percent after it said same-store food and liquor sales at Coles rose 3.0 percent in the fourth quarter from a year earlier, a touch below market forecasts for 3.2 percent growth, according to a Reuters survey of five analysts.
Qantas Airways soared 4 percent following a report it is in talks with Dubai's flagship carrier Emirates on alliance options.
New Zealand's benchmark NZX 50 index climbed 0.4 percent to 3,473.6 points. New Zealand's central bank held its official cash rate (OCR) at a record low for an 11th consecutive meeting on Thursday and gave no hint of any rush to alter its interest rates projection.
Source Reuters with CNBC.com
