Asian markets started the day lower before recovering, taking their lead from a negative session on Wall Street, on Wall Street, where the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.9%, as investors remained fixated on the deadlock in Washington, which has resulted in the first partial shutdown of the U.S. government in 17 years.
The Nikkei 225 index in Japan regained 41.29 points, or 0.3% to 13,894.61
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index hiked 204.90 points, or 0.9%, to 23,178.65
Japanese stocks recovered as the dollar edged higher against the yen
Also in Tokyo, Japan Airlines Co. fell 1.9%, eating into a 3% gain made during the previous session. The stock rose on Monday on expectations that the company would make a landmark deal with Airbus, with the firm announcing after the market closed that it would buy 31 Airbus planes.
Fuji Heavy Industries gained 2.3% after a Nikkei report said the company will develop a hybrid sport-utility vehicle with Toyota.
CHINA
Stocks in China rose Tuesday, as Shanghai came back online after a week-long public holiday.
Shanghai’s CSI 300 returned from holiday to add 32.77 points, or 1.4%, to 2,441.81
There was also some supportive economic data, as HSBC's service sector purchasing managers index showed a continued expansion in service activity, albeit at a slightly slower rate. The measure came in at 52.4 in September compared with 52.8 in August, with a score above 50 indicating an increase in activity.
Investors are looking ahead to trade and inflation data, out over the weekend and early next week, to see whether China will produce further signs of an economic recovery that has helped support stocks in recent weeks.
Severe smog in Beijing over the weekend raised expectations for government measures to improve pollution, helping stocks in the environmental sector. Xiamen Savings Environmental Co., which makes filtration products, jumped 4.7% and waste-water-treatment firm Sound Environmental Resources Co. added 7.3%.
In other markets;
Korea’s Kospi Index gained 8.34 points, or 0.4%, to 2,002.76
Taiwan’s Taiex index strengthened 41.99 points, or 0.5%, to 8,375.65
The Singapore Straits Times Index picked up 9.91 points, or 0.3%, to 3,146.50
In New Zealand, the Exchange 50 Gross Index subtracted 17.36 points, or 0.4%, to 4,738.68
In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 moved lower 11.67 points, or 0.2%, to 5,149.45
