Asian stock markets largely gained on Wednesday, following overnight media reports that OpenAI, the privately held US-based artificial intelligence modeler, has annualized recurring revenue approaching $70 billion, a rate running 70% above July levels.

The outlook for OpenAI, in addition to an AI industry meeting held at the White House Tuesday to address safety concerns, boosted demand for tech shares.

Hong Kong, Shanghai and Tokyo exchanges finished in the green, while other regional trading floors were mixed.

Brent crude oil futures rose 0.7% to $103.27 a barrel, during Asian market hours.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 opened higher and rose to the close, finishing up 1.9% on renewed strength in AI-and semiconductor-related issues, after overnight gains in peer issues on Wall Street.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 rose 1,272.45 to 66,753.72 as gaining issues outnumbered losers 206 to 18.

Leading the upside was Crasus Chemical, up 9.2%, while electronics-components maker Murata Manufacturing declined 2.9%.

In economic news, Japan's retail sales in August rose 2.7% on year, but fell a seasonally adjusted 1.2% from July, reported the Ministry of Economy, Trade & Industry.

The nation's industrial production rose 3.4% on year in August, but fell a seasonally adjusted 1.7% from July, added the ministry.

In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index opened lower but gained ground, closing up 0.4% despite soft property shares.

The broad gauge Hang Seng rose 89.70 to 24,613.27, as gaining issues outnumbered losers to 61 to 31. The Hang Seng TECH Index gained 0.1% on the day, while the Mainland Properties Index fell 0.2%.

Leading the upside was CSPC Pharmaceutical, gaining 6.3%, while home appliances-maker Midea declined 3.2%.

On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite rose 0.3% to 3,842.19.

In economic news, China's composite purchasing managers index, a combination of China's manufacturing and services sectors, rose to 50.7 in September from 49.5 in August, and struck above the 50-mark that separates growth from contraction, reported the National Bureau of Statistics.

The S&P Global China composite PMI rose to 52.4 in September from 52.1 in August, said the credit-rating agency.

On the other regional exchanges, the S. Korean KOSPI fell 0.5%; the Taiwan TWSE inclined 0.7%; the Australian ASX 200 inclined 0.9%; the Singapore Straits Times Index fell 0.7%, and the Thai Set declined 2.2%.

In Mumbai, the Sensex was down 0.1%

The MSCI All Country Asia Pacific Index rose 0.8% on the day.