Summary China's economy expanded 7.4 percent year-on-year in the first three months.
HONG KONG (AFP) - Asian markets were mixed on Wednesday following another rally on Wall Street but investors were keeping their focus on the release later in the day of Chinese first-quarter economic growth data.
The yen dipped after the head of the Japanese central bank said the country was on target to meet its inflation target next year.
Tokyo jumped 1.79 percent, Hong Kong added 0.40 percent and Sydney gained 0.39 percent but Shanghai eased 0.13 percent and Seoul was 0.20 percent off.
US shares, which plunged last week on fears about tech firms' valuations, picked up again on Tuesday following some upbeat corporate results.
Yahoo reported a stronger-than-expected first-quarter profit and chip giant Intel posted a small-than-forecast dip in net profit as the key personal computer segment showed signs of stabilising.
On Wall Street the Dow ended up 0.55 percent, the S&P 500 jumped 0.68 percent and the Nasdaq added 0.29 percent.
However, investors were mostly waiting for the release of China's growth figures hoping for signs that it is coming to the end of a debilitating slowdown.
A survey of 13 economists by AFP saw a median forecast of 7.3 percent growth in the period, which would mark the fourth slowdown in the past five quarters, putting China on track for its worst annual performance since 1990.
"So far, we have no evidence of a recovery in China," Danske Bank said in a note. "There is an increasing risk that financial markets will start to question the Chinese recovery" if economic data continues to disappoint, the bank added, according to Dow Jones Newswires.
In Tokyo the yen saw selling pressure after Bank of Japan governor Haruhiko Kuroda said its 2.0 percent inflation target was on track. He also said it was too soon to debate ending a massive stimulus programme introduced last year as part of a drive to kickstart the economy.
The dollar was at 102.05 yen in early trade, against 101.94 yen in New York Tuesday afternoon.
The euro fetched $1.3812 and 140.97 yen compared with $1.3813 and 140.80 yen.
Investors are also watching the Ukraine crisis after Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that Ukraine was on the verge of civil war as Kiev launched a military operation against pro-Kremlin militants in the separatist east.
In oil trade New York's main contract, West Texas Intermediate for May delivery, dropped five cents to $103.70 in early Asian trade trade and Brent North Sea crude for June eased 16 cents to $109.20 a barrel.
Gold fetched $1,297.54 an ounce at 0140 GMT, from $1,303.06 late Tuesday.
