Japan's government upgraded its view on business sentiment for the first time in two months in December as a central bank survey showed broad recovery in the corporate mood thanks to upbeat profits.

Japan's exports in November fell for the first time in three months dragged down by China-bound chip shipments, underscoring worries that slowing overseas economies will complicate policymakers' efforts to wind back on stimulus.

China's exports to North Korea swung back to growth in November from a decline in the previous month, Chinese customs data showed on Wednesday, as Pyongyang reopens its economy after the pandemic.

China is able to achieve economic growth of 5% in 2024, Wang Yiming, a policy adviser to the central bank, said on Tuesday.

The average wage U.S. employers were willing to offer new workers surged to record levels in November, a report from the New York Federal Reserve showed.

Asian shares tracked Wall Street higher on Wednesday as U.S. rate cut fever lingered near the year's end, while oil held onto gains from the past two days after attacks by Houthi militants on ships in the Red Sea disrupted maritime trade.