This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-31704531

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Asian stock markets mostly buoyant following US lead Asian stock markets mostly down despite US closing highs
(about 2 hours later)
Stock markets in Asia were mostly trading higher on Monday, following the US, where both the Dow Jones and the S&P 500 closed at all-time highs. Stock markets in Asia were mostly down on Tuesday, despite markets in the US, where both the Dow Jones and the S&P 500 closed at all-time highs.
In Tokyo, the benchmark Nikkei 225 was up 0.21% at 18,865.77 points in early trade. Australia's benchmark S&P/ASX 200 was down 0.62% at 5,922.00 points in afternoon trade.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng was up 0.39% at 24,984.62, but the Shanghai Composite index was down 0.56% at 3,317.69. The index lost earlier gains after the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) announced it would keep its benchmark interest rate on hold at 2.25%.
Analysts said mainland investors were worrying about a glut of new share offers. Analysts said the market had reckoned there was about a 50% chance of a cut.
Trading in shares of Japan's struggling electronics giant Sharp was halted temporarily after a media report said the firm was preparing to seek aid from its lenders. RBA governor Glenn Stevens said: "At today's meeting the board judged that, having eased monetary policy at the previous meeting, it was appropriate to hold interest rates steady for the time being."
The Australian dollar rose against the US dollar after the RBA's announcement.
It had dropped as low as $0.77 earlier on Tuesday, but was up 0.8% at $0.78 after the RBA's announcement.
Elsewhere in Asia
In Tokyo, the benchmark Nikkei 225 was down 0.20% at 18,788.40 points in early afternoon trade.
Trading of shares of Japan's struggling electronics giant Sharp was halted temporarily on Tuesday morning after a media report said the firm was preparing to seek aid from its lenders.
The company said it had not been the source of the report, however, and that it had made no decisions around restructuring.The company said it had not been the source of the report, however, and that it had made no decisions around restructuring.
Despite the reassurance, its Japan-listed shares were down more than 6% in morning trade.Despite the reassurance, its Japan-listed shares were down more than 6% in morning trade.
Sharp has said it is likely to post its third annual net loss in four years as it struggles with its business in China. Sharp had said it was likely to post its third annual net loss in four years as it struggles with its business in China.
Elsewhere in Asia Hong Kong's Hang Seng was flat, up just 0.02% at 24,892.19.
Australia's benchmark S&P/ASX 200 was up 0.36% at 5,980.10 points as investors' expectations for another rate cut from the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) later on Tuesday continued to rise. Hong Kong-listed shares of Chinese property developer Kaisa jumped more than 7% early on Tuesday after the firm announced an onshore debt restructuring plan.
Chris Weston from IG Markets in Sydney said the market reckoned there was a 56% chance of a cut. By mid-morning, the firm's shares were up by just under 2%.
"Glenn Stevens [RBA governor] has already detailed some degree of urgency, recently stating that 'if you feel the case has emerged and it is clear enough, it is usually best to get going on it,'" Mr Weston said. On mainland China, the Shanghai Composite index was down 0.92% at 3,305.45 as investors worried about a glut of new share offers.
"This seems quite poignant and given what we have seen in some of the key data points of late, not to mention the failure of the Australian dollar to fall after last month's cut, then it suggests the RBA will bring the cash rate to 2%."
In Korea, the Kospi share index was up 0.10% at 1,998.77 points.In Korea, the Kospi share index was up 0.10% at 1,998.77 points.