Asian stock markets were largely higher in early trading Wednesday after an up-and-down morning as U.S. midterm election results came in. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures YMZ8, +0.19% rose as it appeared likely Democrats would control the House while Republicans extended gains in the Senate.
Amid thin trading volumes, Japanese stocks yo-yoed as U.S. election results arrived. After briefly turning lower, the Nikkei NIK, +0.68% was last up 1.2%. After sliding early to ¥112.95, the U.S. dollar was above ¥113.40. Toyota 7203, +1.00% rose more than 2% while Nintendo 7974, +2.38% jumped about 3%.
Hong Kong stocks showed little movement, with the Hang Seng Index HSI, +1.16% — which has risen four of the past five sessions — up 0.1%. Sunny Optical 2382, +3.38% was down a further 2.2%, extending yesterday’s slide for the smartphone lens maker while financials generally started with gains. Geely Automotive 0175, -2.84% shares sank after reporting it was unlikely to meet its 2018 sales targets.
Chinese stocks were muted as well, with both the Shanghai SHCOMP, +0.26% and Shenzhen Composite 399106, +0.59% indexes about flat.
South Korea’s Kospi SEU, +0.44% showed moderate gains, with Samsung 005930, +1.14% up slightly following reports it would soon unveil a foldable smartphone. Benchmark indexes in Taiwan and Singapore rose as well.
Australia’s ASX 200 XJO, +0.15% was about flat, along with New Zealand’s benchmark NZ50GR, +0.25% .
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