Asian markets were mixed Wednesday, with Chinese stocks overcoming early weakness to end the first trading session of the year on a positive note, while Hong Kong and South Korean shares declined after a weak finish on Wall Street.
Markets in Japan and New Zealand were closed for a holiday.
In Hong Kong, the benchmark Hang Seng Index fell 0.9 percent to 27,560.52 and the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index lost 0.7 percent at 16,006.81.
In Sydney, shares of mining giant BHP Billiton climbed 0.4 percent, while among financials, Macquarie Bank added 1.1 percent.
In Seoul, financial shares were among the losers, with brokerage Samsung Securities' shares dropping 3 percent, while Kookmin Bank stock declined 2.8 percent.
In Hong Kong, shares of China Eastern Airlines jumped 4.4 percent after the parent of fellow Chinese state-owned airline Air China reportedly said a joint offer made earlier by Singapore Airlines and Temasek to buy shares in China Eastern was too low.
Air China's parent, China National Aviation Corp., currently holds a 12.07 percent stake in China Eastern. Shares of Air China fell 0.7 percent. In Singapore trading, Singapore Airlines stock slipped 0.9 percent.
ELSEWHERE:
MUMBAI: India's Sensitive index ended little changed at 20,292.13.
SHANGHAI: China's Shanghai Composite ended 0.2 percent higher at 5,272.81.
SINGAPORE: The Straits Times Index lost 0.7 percent at 3,457.40.
TAIPEI: Taiwan's Weighted Index sank 2.2 percent to 8,323.05.
SEOUL: South Korea's Kospi fell 2.3 percent to 1,853.45.
SYDNEY: Australia's S&P/ASX 200 climbed 0.2 percent to 6,353.20.
with files from other wire services
