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Hong Kong - Asian markets mostly rose on Wednesday following a second straight rally on Wall Street, while Chinese economic growth came in slightly above forecasts in the first three months of the year.
Japan's Nikkei led regional gains thanks to a weaker yen after the head of the country's central bank said it was on target to meet its inflation target next year.
Tokyo jumped 2.26% by the break, Hong Kong added 0.51% and Sydney gained 0.36% and Seoul was 0.10% higher, but Shanghai was down 0.23%.
China's National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said the world's number two economy expanded 7.4% year-on-year in January-March.
The figure was lower than the 7.7% seen in the final three months of last year and marks the fourth slowdown in the past five quarters, putting China on track for its worst annual performance since 1990.
However, it was slightly up on the 7.3% median forecast in a survey of 13 economists by AFP.
The NBS spokesperson Sheng Laiyun said in a statement the economy "performed within a proper range, with structural adjustment, economic transformation and upgrading continuing to make progress".
But he added: "We should keep in mind that the external environment remains complicated and volatile, and the national economy still faces downward pressure."
There are increasing fears of a slowdown in the Chinese economy, a key driver of regional and global growth, following a string of weak data, including on manufacturing and trade.
That in turn has fuelled speculation Beijing will announce some measures to kickstart growth, such as by lowering that amount of cash banks must keep in reserve, which would boost lending.
Mark McFarland, global chief economist at Coutts Private Bank, told Dow Jones Newswires that while Wednesday's data was weak "under the circumstances, it actually isn't bad". He added that markets should forget about stimulus for now as China focuses on reining in credit growth.
On Wall Street US shares, which plunged last week on fears about tech firms' valuations, picked up for a second day on Tuesday following some upbeat corporate results.
Yahoo reported a stronger-than-expected first-quarter profit and chip giant Intel posted a small-than-forecast dip in net profit as the key personal computer segment showed signs of stabilising.
On Wall Street the Dow ended up 0.55%, the S&P 500 jumped 0.68% and the Nasdaq added 0.29%.
In Tokyo the yen saw selling pressure after Bank of Japan governor Haruhiko Kuroda said its 2.0% inflation target was on track. He also said it was too soon to debate ending a massive stimulus programme introduced last year as part of a drive to kickstart the economy.
The dollar was at ¥102.20 in Tokyo trade, against ¥101.94 in New York Tuesday afternoon.
The euro fetched $1.3816 and ¥141.24 compared with $1.3813 and ¥140.8.
Investors are also watching the Ukraine crisis after Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that Ukraine was on the verge of civil war as Kiev launched a military operation against pro-Kremlin militants in the separatist east.
In oil trade New York's main contract, West Texas Intermediate for May delivery, rose 6 cents to $103.81 in early Asian trade trade and Brent North Sea crude for June eased 20c to $109.16 a barrel.
Gold fetched $1 296.10 an ounce at 03:20 GMT, from $1 303.06 late on Tuesday.
