05:35 AM EST, 12/27/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Asian markets were mixed at Friday's close as China posted another monthly drop in industrial profits, while Japan faces a potential rate hike.

Tokyo and Shanghai advanced during the session, while Hong Kong finished in the red.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 gained 1.8%, or 713.10 points, to 40,281.16. Bank of Japan policymakers suggested a potential rate hike shortly, despite keeping rates steady at 0.25% in December to assess wage trends and US policies.

A summary of the Dec. 18 to 19 meeting revealed that BOJ policymakers were divided, citing uncertainties over Japan's tax policy, US fiscal direction and weak profitability among small firms.

Top gainers in the session include DeNA, which rose by 15.6%, while Nissan Motor fell by 7.8%.

In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index closed slightly lower to 20,090.46 as trading resumed following a two-day break.

Leading the upside was Lenovo Group, with a 9.2% increase and top losers include Zhongsheng Group, which closed 4.4% lower.

On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite Index advanced 0.1% to close at 3,400.14, even as industrial profits in the country declined again in November.

Data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed that total profits of China's major industrial enterprises fell 7.3% year-over-year last month, following a 10% decline in October.

On the other regional exchanges, the S. Korean KOSPI fell by 1%; the Taiwan TWSE was up 0.1%; the Australian ASX 200 added 0.5%; the Singapore Straits Times Index gained 0.3%, and the Thai Set advanced by 0.3%.