* MSCI Asia-Pacific index up 0.35 pct, Nikkei up 0.7 pct
* US 10-year yield hovers near 3 pct, highest since early 2014
* Higher U.S. yields lift dollar index to 3-1/2-mth highs
* Euro stuck near 1-1/2-mth low, ECB policy meeting in focus
* Crude up on concerns over supply disruptions
By Shinichi Saoshiro
TOKYO, April 26 (Reuters) - Asian stocks rose on Thursday as robust corporate earnings helped Wall Street quell concerns about the surge in U.S. bond yields, while the dollar hovered near 3-1/2-month highs against a basket of currencies.
MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS bounced back from three-week lows plumbed the previous day and gained 0.35 percent.
South Korea's KOSPI .KS11 climbed 1.2 percent, with tech shares buoyed after Samsung Electronics 005930.KS posted a record quarterly profit. KRW/
Australian stocks .AXJO edged up 0.2 percent and Japan's Nikkei .N225 rose 0.7 percent.
Shanghai .SSEC bucked the trend and slipped 0.3 percent.
The Dow .DJI rose 0.25 percent overnight, ending a five-day losing streak, and the S&P 500 .SPX gained 0.18 percent on optimism over a spate of upbeat earnings that managed to offset jitters over rising U.S. bond yields. .N
The spike to a four-year peak above 3 percent in the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield this week - a benchmark for global borrowing costs - had weighed on stocks amid concerns rising corporate borrowing costs could dampen profits.
Nonetheless, the broader equity market reaction to the latest jump in U.S. yields appeared to be more measured compared to February, when a similar spike in rates sent stocks tumbling.
"The equity markets slid sharply in January and March in response to the rise in Treasury yields. But the Federal Reserve signalled in March that its rate hikes would be gradual," said Masahiro Ichikawa, senior strategist at Sumitomo Mitsui Asset Management in Tokyo.
"Expectations towards U.S. rate hikes being gradual are enabling equities to take the current yield rise in stride."
The 10-year Treasury note yield US10YT=RR rose to 3.035 percent overnight, its highest since January 2014. The yield has climbed on expectations of a steady U.S. economic expansion, accelerating inflation and concerns about increasing debt supply.
Higher U.S. yields have dragged up their European counterparts, with 10-year German bund reaching a six-week high of 0.655 percent DE10YT=RR and its British Gilt equivalent setting a nine-week peak of 1.57 percent GB10YT=RR this week.
The dollar has drawn support from the surge in U.S. yields, with its index against a basket of six major currencies .DXY last steady at 91.163 and within reach of 91.261, its highest since Jan. 12 scaled on Wednesday.
The greenback has risen without pause through much of the past week as concerns over a U.S.-China trade dispute receded, allowing the market to turn its attention back to dollar-supportive fundamentals.
The euro fetched $1.2176 EUR= after sliding to a 1-1/2-month low of $1.2160.
Immediate focus was on the European Central Bank's monetary policy decision at 1145 GMT. The ECB is widely expected to keep policy unchanged but its comments will be followed closely for further guidance on the timing of its scaling-back of massive monetary stimulus.
The dollar was little changed at 109.360 yen JPY= after going as high as 109.490, its strongest since Feb. 8.
Crude oil prices were up amid the prospect of fresh sanctions on Iran and concerns about output from Venezuela. O/R
Brent crude LCOc1 added 0.6 percent to $74.43 a barrel and U.S. crude futures CLc1 were 0.5 percent higher at $68.38 a barrel.
Higher U.S. yields and a stronger dollar weighed on non-yielding gold, with spot prices slipping to a five-week low of $1,318.51 an ounce XAU= overnight. GOL/
<^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ MSCI, Nikkei datastream chart
http://reut.rs/2sSBRiD
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^>