Asian stock markets are trading higher on Tuesday in the wake of solid gains in U.S. markets overnight, while the Japanese yen briefly strengthened after a powerful earthquake rocked northern Japan.

Japan's benchmark index, Nikkei 225 rose 13.70 points or 0.08 percent to trade at 18,119.72. China's benchmark index, Shanghai Composite rose 5.76 points or 0.18 percent to trade at 3,223.91. Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose 272.80 points or 1.22 percent to trade at 22,630.58.

Singapore's Straits Times gained 15.38 points or 0.55 percent to trade at 2,832.05. South Korea's KOSPI gained 16.42 points or 0.84 percent to trade at 1,982.47. Taiwan's TAIEX rose 88.60 points or 0.98 percent to trade at 9,129.71.