Asian stocks ended mixed on Tuesday as all markets<\/span> reopened following a long holiday weekend. Underlying sentiment remained cautious amid concerns surrounding inflation and China’s economic slowdown due to Covid-19 lockdowns.<\/p>\n
Chinese shares fluctuated before ending marginally lower after authorities pledged support for businesses hit by the worst Covid-19 outbreak in two years.<\/p>\n
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index plunged 2.3 percent to 21,027.76, dragged down by tech stocks after authorities in China announced a ban on the livestreaming of unauthorized video games.<\/p>\n
Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index gained 0.7 percent to settle at 26,985.09 as a weaker yen boosted export-oriented shares, especially automakers despite Toyota announcing a cut to its production plans for May.<\/p>\n
Nissan Motor jumped 3.9 percent, while Toyota Motor and Honda Motor added 1-2 percent.<\/p>\n
Trading house Mitsubishi Corp. advanced 2.3 percent and oil refiner Eneos rose 2.2 percent after reports that they are considering the commercialization of sustainable aviation fuel.<\/p>\n
Australian markets hit a 3-1\/2-month closing high as higher commodity prices helped lift mining and energy stocks. Gold miners also pushed higher, tracking strength in bullion prices. The benchmark S&P\/ASX 200 Index rose 0.6 percent to 7,565.20, marking its highest close since January 5.<\/p>\n
Minutes of the Reserve Bank board’s most recent meeting added more weight to market views that the first rate hike may not be too far off.<\/p>\n
Seoul stocks posted strong gains to snap a two-day losing streak. The Kospi climbed 1 percent, to 2,718.89 as investors scooped up large-cap chipmakers following a 1.9-percent overnight rally by the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index.<\/p>\n
New Zealand’s benchmark NZX-50 Index dipped 0.5 percent to finish at 11,835.88 as trading resumed after the Easter break. Heavyweight Fisher & Paykel Healthcare lost 2.4 percent, while Meridian Energy advanced 2.3 percent.<\/p>\n
U.S. stocks fluctuated before ending slightly lower overnight as a bond sell-off continued and investors looked ahead to a big week of earnings reports.<\/p>\n
The Dow and the Nasdaq Composite both slipped around 0.1 percent, while the S&P 500 ended largely unchanged with a negative bias. <\/p>\n
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