HSI Slips In Volatile Trading, Asian Markets Mixed

Hong Kong stocks fluctuated in the morning session before ending lower as an offer of de-nuclearisation talks by North Korea was offset by fresh fears over a global trade war.

The Hang Seng Index fell 0.4 percent, to 30,403 by the break.

On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite Index was up 0.1 percent up, to 3,294, while the Shenzhen Composite Index slipped 0.3 percent to 1,847.

Other regional equities started the day in negative territory but the losses were tempered in some markets while other rebounded as investors also absorbed Pyongyang's olive branch to South Korea and the US, saying it was open to discussing its nuclear programme with the two.

Seoul climbed 0.7 percent, while the won was up by a similar amount against the US dollar.

Tokyo was down 0.2 percent by the break, but Kobe Steel plunged 5.2 percent a day after its CEO resigned – leaving no successor – after the firm revealed widespread submission of false strength and quality data for products shipped to hundreds of clients worldwide.

Taipei 0.3 percent up. Sydney, however, dropped 0.5 percent as data showed Australia's economic growth slowed in the final three months of last year and missed expectations. (AFP)

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