Asian markets were mixed Tuesday, with Japanese shares slipping on insurers such as Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance after a powerful earthquake rocked northwestern Japan, while stocks rose in Hong Kong, led by mainland China-related firms such as PetroChina Co. and Fosun International.
In Tokyo, Nikkei 225 index slipped 21.68 points, or 0.12 percent, on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, to 18,217.27 while in Hong Kong, the blue chip Hang Seng Index finished up 0.5 percent at 23,057.30.
Sompo Japan Insurance Inc. fell 2.26 percent at 1,470 yen (US$12.08) and Fuji Fire & Marine Insurance Co. dropped 1.20 percent to 494 yen (US$4.05).
Utility stocks also fell. Tokyo Electric Power Co., known as TEPCO, fell 1.05 percent to 3,750 yen (US$30.74) after it said the quake started a small fire at one of its nuclear power plants and caused the leakage of 1,200 liters of radioactive water into the sea. TEPCO officials said there was no ''significant change'' in the sea water near the plant.
ELSEWHERE:
JAKARTA: Indonesia's Jakarta Composite climbed 0.3% to 2,292.65.
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian shares ended 1.4 percent higher at 1,384.72, an intraday high.
SHANGHAI: Chinese stocks rose Tuesday, as property firms were boosted by the stronger Chinese yuan and banks rose on a stable earnings outlook for the sector. The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index gained 74.27 points, or 1.9 percent, to 3,896.19. The Shenzhen Composite Index of China's second, smaller bourse advanced 23.24 points, or 2.2 percent, to 1,080.31.
TAIPEI: Taiwan's Weighted index gained 1% at 9,509.73.
WELLINGTON: New Zealand's NZX 50 index added 0.4% to 4,258.84.
SYDNEY: Australia's S&P/ASX 200 index was little changed at 6,381.60.
With files from wire services
