Asian equity indices are exhibiting mixed trade in early deals on Tuesday, with the Australian central bank due later to detail its stance on interest rates and North Korea a now ever-present backdrop. Japan’s Nikkei share average fell to a one-week low in choppy trade as geopolitical tensions over North Korea sapped risk appetite, while index-heavyweight Fast Retailing Co dropped on weak sales. Among the other Asian markets, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Shanghai and Singapore are higher. Bucking the trend, Indonesia, South Korea, and Malaysia are in negative territory.
Hang Seng rose 64.68 points or 0.23% to 27,804.94, Taiwan Weighted gained 28.48 points or 0.27% to 10,598.35, Shanghai Composite added 6.61 points or 0.2% to 3,386.19, and Straits Times was up by 9.96 points or 0.31% to 3,240.93.
On the flip side, Nikkei 225 declined 100.11 points or 0.51% to 19,408.14, Jakarta Composite dropped 19.15 points or 0.33% to 5,794.59, KOSPI Index slipped 7.69 points or 0.33% to 2,321.96, and FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI was down by 6.56 points or 0.37% to 1,766.60.