Japanese stocks posted a modest rise in choppy trade on Tuesday to mark a fifth consecutive day of gains as investors waited for fresh trading cues.
The Nikkei 225 index took on 45.08 points, or 0.2%, to 19,924.89, after returning from a long weekend.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng slid 78.27 points, or 0.4%, to 22,587.63,
Investors in Japan noted the market was waiting for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's cabinet to approve the outline of next year's budget on Dec. 1 -- a week from today. A supplementary budget for the current fiscal year is also planned.
Most sectors fell in Hong Kong, with resources shares leading the decline. An index tracking raw material stocks fell nearly 1%, underperforming the market.
Among the most actively traded stocks on Hong Kong's main board were Imperial Pacific International, up 5.3%; Ngaishun Holdings, up 5.9%; and SMIC, down 2.3%.
In Australia, materials stocks fell 1.8%, to bring the ASX index down from Monday’s one-month high.
Among Australian mining stocks, BHP Billiton Ltd. fell 1.8%, and Rio Tinto Ltd. fell 1.5%. South32 Ltd. dipped 2.5% and iron-ore producer Fortescue Metals Group Ltd. lost 3.2%.
CHINA
The CSI 300 in Shanghai inched up 0.55 points to 3,753.89.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said on Tuesday China was on track to reach its economic growth target of about 7% this year, and the economy still needs adjustments to maintain reasonable medium- to long-term growth.
Li made the comments during a summit with leaders of 16 Central and Eastern European countries, in the city of Suzhou.
In other markets
In Singapore, the Straits Times Index recovered 20 points, or 0.7%, to 2,923.49
The Kospi index in Korea gained 12.59 points, or 0.6%, to 2,016.29
Taiwan’s Taiex index ducked 85.59 points, or 1%, to 8,400.14
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 added 23.65 points, or 0.4%, to 6,101.27
The ASX 200 docked 50.03 points, or 1%, to 5,226.39
