Asian stock markets mixed at Tuesday's close

By Tuba Sahin

ANKARA (AA) - Major Asian stock markets closed Tuesday with gains amid speculations that Chinese authorities are preparing to gradually ease COVID restrictions.

The Asia Dow, which includes blue-chip companies in the region, rose 2.82%, or 79.33 points, to 2,893.06 on Tuesday.

Tokyo's Nikkei 225 stock exchange rose 0.33%, or 91.46 points, to 27,678.

The au Jibun Bank Japan Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) fell to a 21-month low of 50.7 in October, signaling a weak overall improvement in the health of the manufacturing sector

The Hang Seng, the benchmark for blue-chip stocks trading on the Hong Kong stock exchange, posted the best performance of the day, surging 5.23% or 768.25 points to 15,544.27.

Retail sales in Hong Kong decreased for the second straight month, down 1.5% year-on-year in September, following a marginally revised 3% decrease in August.

China's Shanghai Stock Exchange gained 2.62%, or 75.72 points, to reach 2,996.20.

Activity in the Chinese manufacturing sector narrowed for the third month in a row as COVID-19 containment measures weighed on both output and demand, a business survey revealed on Tuesday.

The Caixin China General Manufacturing PMI rose to 49.2 in October from September's 4-month low of 48.1, according to S&P global.

The Indian Sensex benchmark went up 0.61%, or 369.67 points, to end the day at 61,116.26 points, while the Singapore index climbed 1.21%, or 37.39 points, to close at 3,130.50.

The S&P Global India Manufacturing PMI on Tuesday rose above market estimate, hitting 55.3 in October, up from 55.1 in September.