Asian stocks ended mostly higher on Tuesday, and Japan’s Nikkei Average nudged higher to hit another five-month high.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 index inched forward 6.96 points, or 0.1%, to 15,376.24.
The Hang Seng Index in Hong Kong recovered 75.83 points, or 0.3%, to 22,880.64
Investors were waiting for Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to unveil a package of economic reform, known as the "third arrow" of Abenomics, after the market close.
The yen softened against the U.S. dollar, trading at ¥101.952 from ¥101.905 in the prior session.
In Japan, specialty steel maker Aichi Steel Corp. climbed 2.1%, and rival Daido Steel Co. advanced 1.4%. But auto makers suffered losses broadly, as Honda Motor declined 1.4% and Nissan Motor lost 1%. Toyota Motor dropped 0.3%.
In Hong Kong, Chinese banks rebounded, as China Merchants Bank Co. gained 1.9%, Bank of China rose 1.2%, and Bank of Communications tacked on 1%. However, oil stocks pulled back, with offshore oil and gas producer CNOOC retreating 1.5%, Sinopec down 0.8%, and PetroChina, the country’s largest oil producer and distributor, off 0.4%.
In Australia, the biggest decliners in the banking sector included Australia and New Zealand Banking Group, down 1.1%, and National Australia Bank, down 0.8%.
CHINA
The Shanghai CSI 300 moved up 10.71 points, or 0.5%, to 2,144.82
The People’s Daily, the official newspaper of China’s Communist Party, carried a commentary Monday criticizing those who have "talked down" the outlook for China’s real-estate market as having "ulterior motives."
Among those voicing bearish views: Morgan Stanley, Société Générale, Nomura and UBS.
In other markets;
In Korea, the Kospi index gained 19.43 points, or 1%, to 1,994.35
Singapore’s Straits Times Index regained 4.63 points, or 0.1%, to 3,262.03
In Taiwan, the Taiex index added 17.85 points, or 0.2%, to 9,246.20
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 slid 4.96 points, or 0.1%, to 5,121.21
Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 lost 20.52 points, or 0.4%, to 5,432.78
