Asia markets traded mostly higher on Thursday ahead of a crucial meeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, which many are hoping would help ease trade tensions between the U.S. and China.
The Nikkei 225 gained 85.58 points, or 0.4%, to 22,262.60, with the yen trading at 113.29 to the U.S. dollar
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index faltered 231.53 points, or 0.9%, to 26,451.03
Australian markets were in the green, with advances in most sectors. The energy sub-index was up 0.1%, materials were higher by 1.3% and the heavily weighed financial sector added 0.5%.
The Australian dollar was around $0.7316 U.S., jumping from levels below $0.7250.
CHINA
In Shanghai, the CSI 300 slumped 41.28 points, or 1.3%, to 3,137.65
Top White House economic advisor Larry Kudlow said earlier this week that the Trump administration has restarted talks with the Chinese government "at all levels" ahead of the high-stakes meeting between both presidents at the G-20 summit in Argentina.
During the meeting, Trump is set to focus on issues including alleged Chinese theft of intellectual property, ownership of American companies in China and tariffs and non-tariff barriers.
Analysts from Citi Research said that the "base case" for the Trump-Xi meeting is that both countries would announce a "vaguely worded deal that shall put additional tariffs off the table." But, they added, the additional increase of tariffs to 25% on $200 billion of Chinese exports in January may not be discussed.
In other markets
In Taiwan, the Taiex index gained 1.05 points to 9,885.36
In Korea, the Kospi index added 5.88 points, or 0.3%, at 2,114.10
In Singapore, the Straits Times Index picked up 14.96 points, or 0.5%, to 3,109.44
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 triumphed 80.92 points, or 0.9%, to 8,794.88
In Australia, the ASX 200 recovered 33.34 points, or 0.6%, to 5,758.42
