Reactions in Asian stock markets were relatively muted on Wednesday afternoon as results filtered in from the much-anticipated midterm elections in the U.S. major indexes
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 dropped 61.95 points, or 0.3%, to 22,085.80.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index gained 26.73 points, or 0.1%, to 26,147.69
Media outlets in the states projected late on Tuesday showed that Democrats had taken a majority in the House and Republicans had retained control of the Senate. Both chambers make up Congress — the country's principal decision-making body — and approval from each is required to pass bills into law.
The midterm elections are poised to create significant changes for how President Donald Trump can accomplish his domestic goals. But experts said the results may not mean much for the country's trade policies — the U.S. and China are currently locked in a trade fight that saw both countries apply import tariffs on some of each other's goods.
In the currency market, the Japanese yen traded at 113.21 to the U.S. dollar while the Australian dollar fetched $0.7242.
In other markets
Markets in New Zealand remained shuttered for holiday.
In Singapore, the Straits Times Index returned to trading after a holiday, with a gain of 4.74 points, or 0.2%, to 3,065.36
In Shanghai, the CSI 300 fell 21.24 points, or 0.7%, to 3,221.91
In Taiwan, the Taiex index regrouped 83.4 points, or 0.9%, to 9,908.35
In Korea, the Kospi index slipped 10.93 points, or 0.5%, at 2,078.69
In Australia, the ASX 200 gained 21.69 points, or 0.4%, to 5,896.87
