Asian stocks were mostly lower Wednesday, as renewed concerns over U.S. military intervention in Syria weighed on regional sentiment.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 gained 75.43 points, or 0.5%, to 14,053.87. The U.S. dollar traded at ¥99.62 late in Asia, compared with ¥99.57 late Tuesday in New York.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index retreated 68.36 points, or 0.3%, to 22,326.22
Chinese stocks pulled back after positive manufacturing data from both China and Europe lifted Hong Kong-listed Chinese companies more than a total of 4% Monday and Tuesday.
China Construction Bank Corp. stock was in focus in Hong Kong, down 1.4% after Bank of America Corp. sold its remaining holdings in the lender for $1.5 billion U.S. — the latest in a U.S. banking retreat from China’s financial system.
Shipping companies outperformed in Tokyo, driven by a slew of recent upbeat manufacturing data from around the globe. Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha gained 3.1% and Mitsui OSK Lines rose 2.1%.
Investors were also reacting to a range of company news in Tokyo. Canon Inc. jumped 3.8% after the company said it will buy back up to 18 million of its own shares, representing 1.6% of its outstanding shares. The company will spend up to ¥50 billion ($502 million U.S.) on the buyback.
Honda Motor Co. rose 0.6% after a Nikkei report said it likely increased its annual dividend for the year ending March on expectations of strong earnings.
In Sydney, cyclical stocks including banks and resource companies struggled as worries about the situation in Syria triggered risk aversion.
Westpac Banking Corp. lost 1%, Commonwealth Bank of Australia fell 0.4% and BHP Billiton Ltd. fell 0.8%.
The Australian dollar received a boost after the country’s economy expanded in the second quarter. The economy grew at an annualized 2.6%, meeting expectations of economists and pushing the Australian dollar up to 91.42 cents late in Asia from 90.38 cents late Tuesday.
In other markets;
The Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 erased 3.80 points, or 0.2%, to 2,350.70
The Taiex Index in Taiwan slid 4.93 points, or 0.1%, to 8,083.44
Korea’s Kospi Index dipped 0.71 points to 1,933.03
The Singapore Straits Times Index fell 39.36 points, or 1.3%, to 3,015.42
In New Zealand, the Exchange 50 Gross Index nosed ahead 3.59 points, or 0.1%, to 4,610.31
In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 skidded 34.93 points, or 0.7%, to 5,161.64
