Lingering hopes that US president Donald Trump's planned tariff blitz next week will not be as painful as feared lifted most Asian markets on Wednesday, though uncertainty about Trump's policies and the US economy tempered optimism.

Hong Kong battled to edge higher a day after tanking more than two percent on profit-taking and selling in the tech sector.

The Hang Seng Index ended the day up 0.6 percent at 23,483.

Mainland China stocks pared gains and closed largely flat, weighed by persistent worries over a possible escalation in global trade tensions. (Agencies)