Tokyo Nikkei 225 up 1.00%, S&P ASX 200 up 1.01% (Il Sole 24 Ore Radiocor) - Tokyo, 18 Jun - Asian shares closed higher, rebounding from yesterday's losses as they tracked gains on Wall Street overnight.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose 0.64%.

Investors digested the Reserve Bank of Australia's rate decision. The central bank left the cash rate target unchanged at 4.35% and the interest rate paid on Exchange Settlement balances unchanged at 4.25% for a fifth straight meeting, as expected, as the rate of decline in inflation has slowed with prices still above the midpoint of the 2-3% target range.

The RBA noted continuing excess demand in the economy, coupled with elevated domestic cost pressures, for both labour and non-labour inputs.

Last week the Bank of Japan left interest rates unchanged as widely expected but unexpectedly signalled no near-term changes to its bond buying program.

BoJ Governor Kazuo Ueda said today that the central bank could raise interest rates next month depending on economic data available at the time.

Traders now awaited a string of Federal Reserve officials due to speak later in the day for fresh clues on the US central bank's rate path after last week's policy decision.

The Nikkei index closed up 1.00% at 38,482 points, in Sydney the S&P ASX 200 closed up 1.01% at 7,778 points, while in Seoul the KOSPI closed down 0.52% at 2,744 points.

The Shanghai Composite index was up 0.33% at 3,025 points and the Hong Kong Hang Seng index was down 0.34% at 17,876 points. In Mumbai the Sensex index was up 0.35% at 77,263 points.

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(RADIOCOR) 18-06-24 09:00:11 (0180) 5 NNNN