Tokyo, Japan (BBN)-Asian shares headed mostly higher on Tuesday, continuing the momentum from the previous day’s trade when major markets hit record highs.
Investors were also watching for any new developments in talks between Greece and international creditors, with no deal in sight and a €300m payment due next week, reports BBC.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 index nudged 9 points higher to 20,423.33 after the benchmark hit a 15-year high on Monday.
The dollar was weaker at 121.60 yen.
That compared to 121.66 yen a day ago as investors were also awaiting the latest batch of US data later in the day like consumer confidence for more insight on the state of the world’s largest economy.
China leads gains
In China, the Shanghai Composite was up 0.2% at 4,823.95 after reaching another seven year high a day earlier.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index was up 1.6% at 28,446.91 in early trade, leading the region’s gains after China said it would launch a mutual fund recognition scheme with the Chinese territory.
The move would allow funds domiciled in Hong Kong and China to be sold in each other’s market starting in July, the latest step to boost cross-border investment.
It would result in a fresh flood of mainland capital to Hong Kong’s market.
Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 was higher 0.8% at 5,767.8.
Shares of Fortescue Metals were up as much as 15% after reports that Chinese linked companies were seeking permission to buy a stake in the miner.
Meanwhile, South Korean shares were flat despite data showing that consumer sentiment rose for a second consecutive month in May to its highest level in seven months.
The composite consumer sentiment index was up to 105 in May from 104 in April, said the Bank of Korea.
A reading above 100 indicates that consumers who expect economic and living conditions to improve in the coming month outnumber those who expect them to deteriorate.
The benchmark Kospi was at 2,145.45