Trading in Asia was mixed with strength in Chinese markets countered by some minor selling in Japan. Japanese shares edged lower on news that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe would announce his resignation after only a year on the job, adding some uncertainty to the political landscape.
In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 index traded as high as 16,032.26 but closed down 80.07 points, or 0.50 percent, on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, to remain below the psychologically key 16,000-point level at 15,797.60 while in Hong Kong, the blue chip Hang Seng Index surged 357.90 points, or 1.49 percent, to a record closing high of 24,310.14 on rising property stocks.
Japanese financial stocks drove the selling including Mizuho Financial and Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group.
In China, the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index (SCI) rebounded after a 4.51 percent decline the previous session, ending the session up 58.66 points, or 1.15 percent, to finish at 5,172.63. Chinese markets are pressured by speculation the Chinese central bank will need to increase interest rates following a surge in the country's consumer price index to a 10-year high of 6.5% in August. In addition, retail sales surged 17.1 percent in August, the fifth consecutive month of growth and a cause of concern for CPI.
ELSEWHERE:
SEOUL: South Korea's Kospi fell 1.83% to 1,813.52.
SINGAPORE: Singapore's Straits Times Index climbed 0.33% to 3,506.09.
TAIPEI: Taiwan's Weighted index edged up 0.17% to 9,018.12.
WELLINGTON: New Zealand's NZX 50 closed down 0.41% to 4,143.02.
SYDNEY: Australia's S&P/ASX 200 declined 0.20% to 6,236.00.
with files from other wire services
