Most Asian markets ended lower Tuesday, with Australian shares dropping on financials after a weak earnings report from St. George Bank and a decline on Wall Street.
The blue-chip Hang Seng Index rose 0.3 per cent to 26,262.13. The Shanghai Composite Index fell 0.7 per cent to 3,733.5.
Asia was still without the lead of its largest bourse in Tokyo due to a public holiday. Financial markets reopen in Japan on Wednesday.
Wharf Holdings rose 2.1 per cent. Sun Hung Kai Properties advanced 0.8 per cent. Swire Pacific was up 1.2 per cent.
Telecommunications companies also jumped on hopes that China will soon restructure the telecom sector, traders said.
China Telecom was the biggest gainer in the sector, rising 3 per cent. China Netcom advanced 2.2 per cent. China Mobile rose 1.4 per cent.
Blue-chip carrier Cathay Pacific fell 1.3 per cent, Air China slid 3.2 per cent, China Eastern was down 1.6 per cent and China Southern fell 3.2 per cent.
Elsewhere:
Australia's S&P/ASX 200 index finished 0.5% lower at 5,701.40., after briefly flirting with the positive territory. Earlier in the day, the Reserve Bank of Australia left its key interest rate unchanged at a 12-year high of 7.25%, citing inflation concerns, tight capacity and a leveling off in demand.
India's Sensitive Index, or Sensex, slipped 0.6% to 17,394.15 in the afternoon, while the broader S&P/CNX Nifty index lost 0.4% to 5,174.45.
South Korea's Kospi ended 0.6% higher at 1,859.06, as trading resumed after a holiday-extended weekend.
New Zealand's NZX 50 index gave up 0.8% to 3,651.09.
Taiwan's Weighted index gained 0.2% to 8,857.37.
with files from other wire services
