Asian shares were mixed on Wednesday, with shares in South Korea down as its political scandal grows more entangled and Toshiba plunges 20 percent on a possible writedown of several billion dollars related to its Westinghouse unit.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 eased 1.34 points to 19,401.72, after data showed that Japanese industrial production rose by 1.5% in November from a year earlier, lower than forecasts for 1.6%.
The Hang Seng Index in Hong Kong zoomed 179.98 points, or 0.8%, to 21,754.74
Japan's November retail sales painted a rosier picture of Japan's economy, up 1.7% year-on-year, compared with forecasts for growth of 0.7%.
Toshiba shares plunged 20.4% to 311.6 yen each, hitting the Tokyo exchange's daily downward limit, after falling 11.6% on Tuesday. The company said on Tuesday it may have to book several billion dollars in one-off charges related to a U.S. nuclear power plant construction company acquisition.
Industrial power tool maker Hitachi Koki was up 16.2%to 1,456 yen per share, after the stock was initially suspended following a Nikkei report that U.S. private equity firm KKR & Co was in the final stages of negotiations with parent company Hitachi to buy Hitachi Koki.
Korean markets settled, as the east Asian country remains mired in a complicated political crisis, involving President Park Geun-hye who has been impeached.
On Wednesday morning, the special prosecution investigation team arrested the National Pension Service chairman, Moon Hyung-pyo, but did not provide further details. In November, two presidential aides were arrested for being involved in a corruption scandal.
Major miners in Australia were all higher; Rio Tinto jumped 2.4% at A$60.17 a share, Fortescue Metals surged 3.5% at A$5.97 and BHP Billiton was up 3.3% at A$25.44. Gold miners also rallied, with Newcrest up 3% at A$18.62 and Evolution Mining gained 4.9% to A$1.84 per stock.
Against the U.S. dollar, the yen tracked at 117.49 while the Australian dollar strengthened to $0.7208 U.S., after trading as low as $0.7152 on Christmas Day.
In other markets
In Shanghai, the CSI 300 shed 14.5 points, or 0.4%, to 3,301.89
In Korea, the Kospi fell 17.68 points, or 0.9%, at 2,024.49
The Straits Times Index in Singapore regained 12.54 points, or 0.4%, to 2,898.03
In Taiwan, the Taiex Index added 92.13 points, or 1%, to 9,201.40
The NZX 50 dropped 1.2 points at 6,875.79
Australia's ASX 200 picked up 57.12 points, or 1%, at 5,685.02
