Asian stocks edged higher on Tuesday tracking gains in Europe, where hopes grew that regional governments would help Greece through its debt crisis, dealers said.
But gains were muted as many Asian markets stayed closed for the Lunar New Year celebrations and the region lacked a lead from Wall Street following the Presidents' Day US holiday.
The focus was on Brussels, where European finance ministers began two days of talks on Monday to assess their next moves to help Greece through its financial troubles.
Investors in Tokyo took their cue from the main European markets, which gained ground on Monday on hopes that the talks will yield concrete measures to aid Greece.
Tokyo closed up 0.21 percent, with the Nikkei-225 rising 20.95 points to 10,034.25. Seoul added 0.46 percent and Sydney climbed 0.49 percent.
Pressure mounted on Greece to take tougher action to slash its debt and public deficit, with Athens insisting that Europe spell out what it will offer in the way of an eventual bailout.
Hopes of some progress in easing Greece's predicament helped the single European currency to claw back some ground in Asia.
The euro rebounded to 1.3640 dollars in Tokyo afternoon trade from 1.3607 in late London trading on Monday. The dollar slipped to 89.79 yen from 89.98.
Greece is already committed to reducing its public deficit by four percentage points this year, from a predicted 12.7 percent of national output, under emergency plans submitted for EU ministers' approval.
Greek Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou pressed for "more explicit" backing from the European Union.
"My guess is that what will stop markets attacking Greece at the moment is a further more explicit message that makes operational what has been decided last Thursday at the European Council," he told reporters.
Financial stocks led share prices higher in Australia, where the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index closed up 22.3 points to 4,567.8 points.
Analysts said a strong quarterly cash earnings result from the country's second largest lender Westpac had lifted the sector, which was also boosted by the European plans to help Greece.
"Solid leads from London got the ball rolling but it was the sharply better-than-expected trading update from Westpac Banking Corporation, featuring a large reduction in impairment charges, that boosted market sentiment," IG Markets analyst Ben Potter said.
Westpac shares closed up 6.18 percent to 24.74 dollars (21.83 US) after the company announced a 33-percent rise in first-quarter earnings.
Financial markets in China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan were closed for the Lunar New Year holiday.
In other markets:
-- Manila ended up 4.47 points, or 0.15 percent, to 2,967.71.
Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. gained 0.19 percent to 2,540 pesos while Century Peak Metal Holdings rose 2.78 percent to 3.70.
-- Wellington closed up 28.07 points, or 0.92 percent, at 3,087.61.
Casino operator Sky City added 1.9 percent to 3.19 New Zealand dollars, after reporting a 29.6-percent increase in first-half net profit.
