Asian stock markets close Monday mixed

By Tuba Sahin

ANKARA (AA) – Major Asian stock markets were mixed at Monday's close amid worries about the spread of COVID-19 cases in Chinese rural areas and optimism over the world economy as inflation eases.

The Asia Dow, which includes blue-chip companies in the region, dropped 0.62% to 3,444.55 points as of 1130GMT.

Tokyo's Nikkei 225 lost 1.14% to close at 25,882 points.

Producer prices in Japan soared 10.2% annually in December 2022 – above market forecasts of a 9.5% surge – dueled by high global commodity prices and historically weak yen.

The Hang Seng, the benchmark for blue-chip stocks trading on the Hong Kong stock exchange, slightly rose 0.04% to 21,746.71 points.

China's Shanghai Stock Exchange enjoyed a 1.01% hike to close at 3,227.59, a four-month high.

Average new home prices in China's 70 major cities fell 1.5% year-on-year in December 2022.

The Singapore index lost 0.31% to end the day at 3,283.60 points, while India's Sensex benchmark fell 0.28% to close at 60,092.97.

India's trade deficit totaled at $23.8 billion in December 2022, widened from $21.7 billion from a year earlier.