05:59 AM EST, 01/27/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Asian stock markets were uneven on Monday, as reports of a new AI-sector entrant from China upset tech issues, while China-exposed exchanges benefitted from a Beijing announcement of additional financial support for mainland listed shares.

Hong Kong finished in the green, Shanghai edged lower and Tokyo finished in the red. Other regional exchanges were also mixed. Exchanges in Taiwan and Sydney were closed on holiday.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 opened higher but declined in trading, finishing off 0.9% as tech issues weakened on media reports that a China AI app operator, DeepSeek, could rival US versions of artificial intelligence programs.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 fell 366.18 to 39,565.80, as losing issues outnumbered gainers 175 to 48.

Leading the upside was private railway operator Keio, up 6.2%, while Furukawa Electric declined 11.3%.

In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index opened higher and held ground, finishing up 0.7% on Beijing vows for more financial support for exchange-listed China companies.

The broad gauge Hang Seng rose 131.58 to 20,197.77, as gaining issues outnumbered losers 61 to 16. The Hang Seng TECH Index gained 0.6% on the day, while the Mainland Properties Index rose 1.3%.

Leading the upside was Hang Lung Properties, gaining 4.4%, while Semiconductor Manufacturing International declined 7.6%.

On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite fell 0.1% to 3,250.60.

In economic news, China's official manufacturing purchasing managers index (PMI) fell to 49.1 in January from 50.1 in December, while the services index dropped to 50.2 from 52.2 in December, the National Bureau of Statistics reported. Readings above 50 pointing to expansion, while below signals contraction.

In other news, Beijing's National Financial Regulatory Administration has approved the second program of long-term equity investments by insurance companies, worth $7.2 billion, reported the South China Morning Post. Under the program, insurers will invest policy proceeds into listed mainland China stocks.

On the other regional exchanges, the S. Korean KOSPI rose 0.9%; the Singapore Straits Times Index fell 0.2%, and the Thai Set declined 1%. In late trading in Mumbai, the Sensex was down 1.1%.