Asian stock markets were mixed Wednesday, with Hong Kong’s narrow advance notably its first finish in the green so far in October.
Japan’s Nikkei NIK, +0.16% swung between small gains and losses before closing up nearly 0.2%. Auto makers stocks fell, including Toyota 7203, -0.38% down 0.4%, and Honda 7267, -0.50% off 0.5%. SoftBank 9984, -5.37% slid 5% amid its discussions of taking a majority stake in WeWork.
Stocks in Hong Kong and China started strong, but gave up some early gains. The Hang Seng Index HSI, +0.08% finished up 0.1%. On Tuesday the index fell for its sixth straight day and hit a 15-month closing low. Chinese banks continued to rise while energy companies gained on strong oil prices: China Construction Bank 0939, -0.32% gave up early gains to close down 0.3% while oil producer CNOOC 0883, +0.95% gained 1%, off steeper earlier gains. Tencent 0700, -2.52% fell 2.5% after forfeiting an early move higher, for a ninth straight drop.
Mainland Chinese stocks opened higher but also faded from session highs. The Shanghai Composite SHCOMP, +0.18% was up 0.2% by the close and the smaller-cap Shenzhen Composite 399106, -0.15% slipped 0.1%.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin stopped short of accusing China of purposely depressing its currency, in a newspaper interview published Wednesday, but warned Beijing against engaging in a competitive devaluation of the yuan as the two countries continue to battle each other over trade.
South Korea’s Kospi SEU, -1.12% was down 1% after Tuesday’s holiday, though Samsung 005930, +0.78% gained.
Australia’s benchmark XJO, +0.14% was barely in positive territory, while New NZ50GR, -0.21% sank incrementally. Singapore’s Strait Times Index STI, -1.11% declined 1%.
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