Asian equities finished mixed on Tuesday, after the Reserve Bank of Australia released its March meeting minutes and the dollar remained soft.
The Nikkei 225 in Japan returned after a long weekend to drop 65.71 points, or 0.3%, to 19.455.88, the yen remained below the 113 handle seen last week. The yen last traded at 112.74 against the U.S. dollar.
The Hang Seng Index in Hong Kong gained 91.13 points, or 0.4%, to 24,593.12
Toshiba's U.S. Westinghouse Electric is taking offers for a financing package to help it go through U.S. bankruptcy. Shares of Toshiba climbed 3.2%.
Korean markets shot up, as former President Park Geun-hye apologized to the country on Tuesday as she arrived at prosecutors’ offices for further questioning as a criminal suspect in a corruption probe.
Australian markets went lower, dragged by their materials sub-index, down 0.6% The RBA's March meeting minutes revealed that the central bank saw growing risks in the overheating housing market.
Engineering and construction firm Downer EDI is looking to launch a A$1.27 billion ($981 million U.S.) takeover bid for cleaning and catering company Spotless Group at A$1.15 per share. Downer EDI shares were untraded at A$7.42 per share, and Spotless Group rallied 49% to A$1.08.
In other markets
In Shanghai, the CSI 300 gained 16.74 points, or 0.5%, to 3,466.35
The Kospi Index in Korea recovered 21.37 points, or 1%, to 2,178.38
In Taiwan, the Taiex added 59.52 points, or 0.6%, to 9,972.49
In Singapore, the Straits Times Index doffed 7.13 points, or 0.2%, to 3,158.57
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 recouped 28.49 points, or 0.4%, to 7,085.54
In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 slid 4.29 points, or 0.1%, to 5,774.62
