U.S. states seem to mark Presidents Day with as many different names and honors as there have been presidents.

Asian shares were lower Wednesday as investors sold to lock in profits from the recent rally driven by hopes economies will gradually return to a pre-pandemic normal. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)TOKYO – Asian shares were lower Wednesday as investors sold to lock in profits from the recent rally driven by hopes economies will gradually return to a pre-pandemic normal. The vaccine rollout in Japan and a recovery of exports as overseas economies rebound will prove key for the Japanese economy, he said. Rising bond yields, a sign of confidence in the economic outlook and expectations of rising inflation, are weighing on sentiment, analysts said. But utilities and real estate stocks, bond proxies that can look less attractive when bond yields rise, were among the biggest decliners.

Asian shares advanced on Tuesday, lifted by the economic recovery, vaccine rollouts and signs that new coronavirus cases may be abating. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)BANGKOK – Asian shares advanced on Tuesday, lifted by the economic recovery, vaccine rollouts and signs that new coronavirus cases may be abating. Analysts think Asian shares will continue to rally, cheered by the recent gains on the U.S. and European markets. Hopes for a recovery are being driven partly by the COVID-19 vaccine rollouts, said Prakash Sakpal, senior economist Asia at ING. A vaccine rollout is starting in Japan this week, a nation that's lagged behind the U.S. and Europe with the inoculations.