Asian stock markets were mixed, though largely improved, as morning trading progressed Wednesday, as indexes in Japan and Hong Kong stocks recovered somewhat from early weakness.
Japan’s Nikkei NIK, -0.24% was last about flat, after suffering early losses from the auto, energy and insurance sectors. Major automakers tumbled, with Toyota 7203, -2.13% and Honda 7267, -3.16% each off more than 2%, and auto parts maker Denso 6902, -2.81% slipped 2%, extending this week’s declines. Dai-ichi Life 8750, -1.74% was off amid the recent downtick on bond yields. The Nikkei set 27-year closing highs both Monday and Tuesday.
Hong Kong stocks started lower following yesterday’s 2.4% drop, but the Hang Seng Index HSI, -0.23% made up ground, and was last up slightly. Tech heavyweight Tencent 0700, -0.50% was up fractionally after falling nearly 1% in the early going. Meanwhile, insurer AIA 1299, -2.07% was off a further 1%.
Australia’s ASX 200 XJO, +0.33% extended gains, up 0.2%, with gold mining companies such as Newcrest Mining NCM, +2.99% and Evolution Mining EVN, +3.99% rallying as gold prices hit a nearly two-week high.
New Zealand’s benchmark NZ50GR, -0.42% slipped, as did Taiwan’s Taiex Y9999, -0.31% , while stocks in Singapore STI, +0.84% and Indonesia JAKIDX, -1.16% posted solid gains. Markets in China and South Korea were closed for holidays.
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