Stocks trade sideways in Asia Wednesday, Nikkei 225 does best

SYDNEY, NSW, Australia - Stocks in Asia crept higher on Wednesday, but gains were modest.

Japan's Nikkei 225 did best, rising 142.11 points or 0.54 percent, to close Wednesday at 26,478.77.

The Australian All Ordinaries gained 21.00 points or 0.31 percent to 6,807.80.

China's Shanghai Composite inched up 2.83 points or 0.09 percent to 3,284.29.

In New Zealand, the S&P/NZX 50 rose 6.94 points or