Asian markets ended mixed on Tuesday in cautious trade as investors await a widely expected U.S. Federal Reserve rate hike this week.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 Index gained 95.49 points, or 0.5%, to 19.250.52,
The Hang Seng Index in Hong Kong regained 13.68 points, or 0.1%, to 22,446.70
Japan Display, one of Apple's smartphone display suppliers, was up 12.2% at 359 yen per share. The display maker had raised its stake from 15% to more than 50% by the end of 2017 in Joled, the Asian Nikkei Review reported. Joled is an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display manufacturer, and the result of a merger between Panasonic and Sony's OLED business units.
Hong Kong's property sector was mostly lower, with CK Property down 0.2% at HK$51.20 per share while Henderson Land was flat at HK$41.85 as China Vanke fell 2% to HK$20.10.
Hong Kong's central bank introduced an ad valorem stamp duty rate tax of 15 percent on all residential property as a cooling measure, which could hit investment demand in the real estate market, according to a research note by OCBC Bank on Monday.
In South Korea, investors will continue to eye the state-of-play over President Park Guen-hye, who was impeached by parliament last week in connection with an influence-peddling scandal. South Korean Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn has assumed presidential authority as caretaker pending a top court ruling on the impeachment.
CHINA
Mainland China markets, which fallen fallen more than 2% on Monday, remained under pressure for most of the trading session but finished in positive territory.
In Shanghai, the CSI 300 dropped 4.14 points, or 0.1%, to 3,405.04
One expert attributed this shift to the impending rate hike by the Fed Wednesday. She also pointed to tightening regulatory requirements for insurers in China on the pace of stock investments, and recent comments from U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on "One China."
However data released in China on Wednesday showed economic activity picked up in November.
China's retail sales last month rose more than expected at 10.8% year-on-year, compared to the forecast 10.1% in a poll of economists, while November factory output were up 6.2% from a year ago, versus the expected 6.1% uptick. Private investment growth was 3.1% higher, from 2.9% in January to October.
In other markets
In Korea, the Kospi gained 8.74 points, or 0.4%, at 2,035.98
The Straits Times Index in Singapore recovered 3.04 points, or 0.1%, to 2,955.23
In Taiwan, the Taiex Index gained back 32.2 points, or 0.3%, to 9,382.14
The NZX 50 faltered 25.83 points, or 0.4%, at 6,850.21
Australia's ASX 200 sank 17.78 points, or 0.3%, at 5,545.05
