Japan stocks rose on Tuesday to a fresh 15-year high, with the yen weakening against the dollar, as markets awaited U.S. Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen’s testimony later in the day.
The Nikkei 225 index gained 136.56 points, or 0.7%, to 18,603.48, the highest close since April 2000. The index has risen for a fifth straight session.
The Hang Seng Index dwindled 86.69 points, or 0.4%, to 24,750.07. Hong Kong’s top-weighted component, HSBC Holdings PLC, posted disappointing earnings. HSBC tumbled 3.5%.
The yen was softer versus the U.S. dollar, trading at ¥119.34 from ¥118.83 late Monday in New York.
Yellen was scheduled to give a testimony before the U.S. Senate Banking Committee later in the day, with some analysts wary that she could strike a hawkish tone about raising rates.
In other markets:
Markets in Shanghai remained closed for Lunar New Year, due to reopen on Wednesday. Markets in New Zealand were also closed for holiday
In Singapore, the Straits Times Index reasserted themselves 16.31 points, or 0.5%, to 3,437.61
The Taiex index in Taiwan vaulted 99.86 points, or 1.1%, to 9,629.37
The Kospi index in Korea moved up 7.73 points, or 0.4%, to 1,976.12
The S&P/ASX index gained 19.01 points, or 0.3%, to 5,926.99
