Asian equities generally edged higher on Wednesday as traders weighed US President Donald Trump's trade war and fresh data that indicated further weakness in the US economy but added to interest rate cut speculation.

In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index increased 0.03 percent to close at 24,910.

The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index fell 0.21 percent to end at 8,932, and the Hang Seng Tech Index went up 0.2 percent to end at 5,532.

Mainland stocks also closed higher, with the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index up 0.45 percent to 3,633, its highest close in more than 3 1/2 years.

The Shenzhen Component Index closed 0.64 percent higher at 11,177. (Agencies)