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-32806911

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Japan's stocks boosted by better-than-expected GDP Japan's stocks boosted by better-than-expected GDP
(about 4 hours later)
Japanese stocks were up nearly 0.8% in early trade on Wednesday after the country posted better-than-expected growth for the three months to March. Japanese stocks were up more than 0.8% on Wednesday after the country posted better-than-expected growth for the three months to March.
The Nikkei index was up 0.79% at 20,184.13 points. Japan's economy, which is the world's third-largest, expanded 0.6% in the period compared with the previous three months, marking its second consecutive quarter of growth.
Japan's economy, which is the world's third largest, expanded 0.6% in the period compared to the previous quarter, marking its second consecutive quarter of growth. The Nikkei index closed up 0.85% at 20,196.56 points.
The result was far better than the 0.4% analysts had expected. Japan's economic growth was far better than the 0.4% analysts had expected.
In China, the Shanghai Composite index was up 0.5% at 4,438.84 in early trade. In China, Hong Kong's benchmark Hang Seng index started in positive territory but later in the day was down 0.42% to 27,576.19 points.
Mainland Chinese shares rallied to their highest level in four months on Tuesday, boosted by Beijing's commitment to reform its financial markets this year. Shares in China's Hanergy Thin Film, a solar power firm listed in Hong Kong, were suspended from trade after falling close to 50% on Wednesday.
Hong Kong's benchmark Hang Seng index started in positive territory but later fell 0.26% to 27,615.7 points. In a statement to the stock exchange, the firm said trading had been suspending "pending release of an announcement containing inside information".
In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 was down 0.52% at 5,588.20 points, failing to follow the US' lead, where the Dow Jones closed at another fresh all-time high on Tuesday. Meanwhile, on the mainland, the Shanghai Composite index was up 0.76% at 4,451.31 in afternoon trade.
In South Korea, the benchmark Kospi index was up 0.35% at 2,128.22 points. Mainland Chinese shares rallied to their highest level in four months earlier in the week, boosted by Beijing's commitment to reform its financial markets this year.
In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 closed flat, down 0.09% at 5,610.30 points, failing to follow the lead of the US, where the Dow Jones closed at another fresh all-time high.
In South Korea, the benchmark Kospi index closed up 0.88% at 2,139.54.