Asia Mostly Lower on China Industrial Data

Asia-Pacific markets traded mixed Friday as investors assessed China’s May industrial data.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 popped 566.21 points, or 1.4%, to 40,150.79, after crossing the 40,000 mark for the first time since Jan. 7 earlier in the day.

The country’s capital city of Tokyo saw core consumer price index excluding fresh food and fuel rise 3.1% year on year in June, slower than the 3.6% increase seen in the previous month, and the 3.3% gain penciled by economists polled by Reuters.

In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng dropped 41.25 points, or 0.2%, to 24,284.15.

CHINA

In Shanghai, the CSI 300 subsided 24.26 points, or 0.6%, to 3,921.76

The country’s industrial profits fell 9.1% year on year in the first five months of the year, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

That marked the largest monthly decline since October last year, when the industrial profits dropped 10%. Industrial profits are a key measure of the financial health of factories, mines and utilities in China.

In other markets

In Korea, the Kospi index subtracted 23.62 points, or 0.8%, to 3,055.94.

In Taiwan, the Taiex index gained 87.74 points, or 0.4%, to 22,580.08.

In Singapore, the Straits Times index moved upward 27.74 points, or 0.7%, to 3,966.20.

In New Zealand, the NZX 50 gained 103.55 points, or 0.8%, to 12,583.59.

In Australia, the ASX 200 sagged 36.58 points, or 0.4%, to 8,514.17.