Asian stocks mostly higher on record Dow, telecom news

TOKYO (AP) — Asian markets were mostly higher Wednesday, cheered by gains on Wall Street and optimism about the telecommunications industry.

Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 rose 0.7 percent to finish at 18,496.69.

SoftBank's shares jumped nearly 4 percent in morning trading in Tokyo after its CEO met with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and then announced the Japanese company, which owns the majority of Sprint, plans to invest $50 billion in the U.S. to create 50,000 jobs.

ANALYST VIEWPOINT: Asian indices look set to see moderate gains on the back of the euphoria that stems from US and European markets.

The bigger-than-expected contraction raised hopes for possible stimulus measures.