Japan's Nikkei Stock Average closed slightly higher on Wednesday, lifted by financial stocks. Nikkei 225 index gained 0.08% or 7.28 points and finished at 8,809.79. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings jumped 3.4% and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group added 2.9%. All Nippon Airways surged 6.8% after company expanded its expectations for operating profit. Shipping companies also supported the index on the upside, led by machinery producer Mitsui OSK which soared 6%. The main loser was Sumitomo Heavy, which plunged 10%.