TOKYO, Sept 17, 2008 (AFP) - Japanese share prices opened up more than one percent Wednesday following an overnight rally on Wall Street amid reports of a possible rescue of troubled insurance giant American International Group.

SEOUL, Sept 17, 2008 (AFP) - South Korean shares opened 2.4 percent higher Wednesday following their 6.1 percent fall the previous day on the collapse of US investment bank Lehman Brothers.

The KOSPI index was up 32.74 points at 1,420.49.