Japanese shares headed higher on Thursday despite trade data for August coming in below market expectations.
Exports rose 3.1% from a year ago, falling short of the 4% predicted, while imports fell a more-than-expected 3.1% in the same period.
Investors also ignored a credit rating downgrade for Japan by US ratings agency S&P, because of a weakening outlook for the economy.
Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 index closed up 1.4% to 18,432.27.
The index has risen for a third consecutive day.
Australian shares headed higher, following the global lead, after US shares were positive ahead of the Federal Reserve’s decision on whether to raise interest rates for the first time in almost a decade.
