Asian markets gave back gains to trade mixed Wednesday, with Japan's Nikkei 225 dipping in to the red as banking shares such Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group fell while Hong Kong shares ended higher as property stocks such as Cheung Kong Holdings rose.
Tokyo's Nikkei fell 1.2 percent to end at 15,030.51. The more inclusive Topix index eased 0.9 percent to 1,456.79.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index added 1.1 percent to end at 27,029.26. The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index, reflecting shares of mainland companies listed in Hong Kong, climbed 1.2 percent to 15,638.68.
Shares of real estate developer Cheung Kong Holdings added 2.3 percent. Sun Hung Kai Properties also saw its shares rise 2.3 percent.
Among Japanese banking shares, Sumitomo Mitsui fell 0.1 percent while Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group shed 1.1 percent.
Shares of NTT DoCoMo added 1.7 percent on reports the cellular service provider is in talks with Apple Inc. on providing iPhone services over its network in Japan.
Shares of Nippon Steel Corp. climbed 0.2 percent while Sumitomo Metal Industries Ltd. fell 0.4 percent and Kobe Steel Ltd. eased 0.6 percent.
Hong Kong-listed shares of China Eastern Airlines climbed 0.8 percent after the Chinese carrier parent remained on track to sell a 24 percent stake to Singapore Airlines Ltd. and the Singaporean government's state investment arm, Temasek Holdings.
In Sydney, shares of BHP Billiton shed 0.1 percent.
ELSEWHERE:
MUMBAI: India's Sensex index was little changed in late trading.
JAKARTA: Indonesia's benchmark JSX Composite was up 0.2 percent.
SEOUL: South Korean markets were closed for national elections.
SINGAPORE: The Straits Times Index rose 1.2 percent.
TAIPEI: Taiwan's Weighted Price index added 2.7 percent.
WELLINGTON: New Zealand's share benchmark the NZX-50 added 0.4 percent.
with files from other wire services
