Investing.com - Asian stock markets were mixed on Tuesday, with shares in Japan outperforming as the yen weakened to a two-month low against the U.S. dollar, boosting sentiment.
During late Asian trade, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index shed 0.55%, Australia’s ASX/200 Index ended 0.11% higher, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index closed 2.23% higher.
In Tokyo, the Nikkei rallied to a two-week high as traders monitored movements in the currency market.
USD/JPY rose to hit a session high of 99.72, the strongest level since September 13. A weaker yen increases the value of overseas income at Japanese companies when repatriated, boosting the outlook for export earnings.
Automakers Mazda and Honda saw shares rise 1.9% and 1.65% respectively, while Sony and Sharp advanced 3.6% and 1.5%.
Meanwhile, in Hong Kong, the Hang Seng declined as market players looked ahead to the outcome of a four-day meeting of China’s top Communist Party officials later Tuesday.
The Hang Seng rallied on Monday amid expectations that the country’s new government will unveil economic reforms.
Elsewhere, In Australia, the ASX/200 Index ended little changed amid growing speculation the Federal Reserve will begin tapering its asset purchase program at its December policy meeting.
The Fed’s stimulus program is viewed by many investors as a key driver in boosting the price of global equities.
Looking ahead, European stock market futures pointed to a modestly lower open.
The EURO STOXX 50 futures pointed to a loss of 0.1% at the open, France’s CAC 40 futures dipped 0.1%, London’s FTSE 100 futures indicated a flat open, while Germany's DAX futures pointed to a drop of 0.1% at the open.
During late Asian trade, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index shed 0.55%, Australia’s ASX/200 Index ended 0.11% higher, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index closed 2.23% higher.
In Tokyo, the Nikkei rallied to a two-week high as traders monitored movements in the currency market.
USD/JPY rose to hit a session high of 99.72, the strongest level since September 13. A weaker yen increases the value of overseas income at Japanese companies when repatriated, boosting the outlook for export earnings.
Automakers Mazda and Honda saw shares rise 1.9% and 1.65% respectively, while Sony and Sharp advanced 3.6% and 1.5%.
Meanwhile, in Hong Kong, the Hang Seng declined as market players looked ahead to the outcome of a four-day meeting of China’s top Communist Party officials later Tuesday.
The Hang Seng rallied on Monday amid expectations that the country’s new government will unveil economic reforms.
Elsewhere, In Australia, the ASX/200 Index ended little changed amid growing speculation the Federal Reserve will begin tapering its asset purchase program at its December policy meeting.
The Fed’s stimulus program is viewed by many investors as a key driver in boosting the price of global equities.
Looking ahead, European stock market futures pointed to a modestly lower open.
The EURO STOXX 50 futures pointed to a loss of 0.1% at the open, France’s CAC 40 futures dipped 0.1%, London’s FTSE 100 futures indicated a flat open, while Germany's DAX futures pointed to a drop of 0.1% at the open.