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Asia stocks rose on Wednesday but inflation fears across the region kept bigger gains in check. Japan's Nikkei ended 1.2 percent higher (14,183) as big name exporters rallied on a weaker yen. But across the region fears of rising inflation linked to oil and food prices kept investors on edge. China's latest factory-gate inflation figures soared to a four year high, at 8.2 percent in May. Food energy and raw material costs all surged at a double-digit pace. Shanghai's stock index fell sharply adding to a major drop earlier in the week on news of further monetary tightening to cool the economy. In Japan, economic growth was revised up to 1 percent for the first quarter, but inflation is also causing worry. Wholesale inflation in the world's number 2 economy hit a 27-year high -- reinforcing expectations of a rate rise by the country's central bank later this year. In corporate news, the head of the world's largest miner BHP Billiton said he sees it as likely that China will take a stake in his firm. Citing China's need for resources and its deep capital reserves, he sees it as an obvious choice for Chinese investment. Tara Joseph-Hui reporting for Reuters.