Asian stocks held firm on Wednesday as a sharp rebound in oil prices supported battered resource shares and emerging economy currencies, while Japanese markets were tentative ahead of a crucial Bank of Japan policy meeting. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS gained 0.2 percent, led by a 0.4 percent rise in South Korea. Japan’s Nikkei .N225 was almost flat ahead of the Bank of Japan policy announcement later in the day. Although a string of weak Japanese economic data has raised speculation of fresh stimulus from the BOJ, most market players believe governor Haruhiko Kuroda would prefer to sit tight for now. “I do not expect a policy change nor comments to hint at future easing at Kuroda’s news conference. Rising expectations that the Fed will hold off raising rates […]