Risk appetites also took a hit on rising geopolitical tensions in East Asia, as North Korea fired four ballistic missiles early in the day, while a spat between China and South Korea over missile defense deepened. South Korean shares also erased earlier losses to post small gains. "Asian shares were supported in light of U.S. rate hike expectations. Higher resource prices and relatively robust growth in China are underpinning markets," Yukino Yamada, senior strategist at Daiwa Securities. "A rate hike is almost a done deal now.

Source: The Edge Markets March 06, 2017 08:15 UTC