The prospect of higher U.S. interest rates and a bullish consumer confidence survey pushed the dollar to an 8-month high against the yen on Wednesday, but Asian stocks faltered after an early boost from lower oil prices. European shares were set to open higher as NYMEX crude for August delivery traded around $58.20 in Asia after hedge funds took profits, down from a record $60.95 earlier this week. Spread betters in London were calling the FTSE 100, CAC 40 and DAX indices 8 to 18 points higher. The U.S. Federal Reserve is widely expected to raise its benchmark rate by a quarter of a point to 3.25 percent on Thursday and to widen the gap with Japanese and euro zone rates further later this year. Japan's Nikkei share average ended up 0.55 percent at its highest close since mid-April. "A fall in crude oil contributed the most today," said Norihiro Fujito, a strategist at Mitsubishi Securities. "Oil has been the biggest concern not only in Japan but across the markets." Tech firms such as Pioneer Corp. and exporters were also lifted by the drop in the yen, which makes their goods cheaper overseas and bolsters their dollar-based profits.