Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix rose more than 2% in South Korea, while Japan's Kioxia was steady, recovering some of the previous-session losses. (EPA Images pic)HONG KONG: Asian shares inched higher on Wednesday as those related to artificial intelligence found respite after a selloff, while any gain was tempered by elevated oil prices and caution ahead of US inflation data later in the global day.

Among firms in the AI supply chain, chipmakers Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix rose more than 2% in South Korea while Kioxia was steady in Japan, recovering some of the previous session's loss.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was up 0.5% after US stocks ended the previous session with a mild loss. Japan's Nikkei rose 0.2% and South Korea's Kospi added 1.8%.