05:49 AM EST, 12/24/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Asian bourses were mixed at Tuesday's close as global markets prepare to close for the holiday break.

Tokyo was down, while Hong Kong and Shanghai finished in the green.

The Nikkei 225 fell 0.3%, or 124.49 points, to 39,036.85 despite the Bank of Japan's minutes showing optimism over wage growth sustaining consumption and hitting the 2% inflation target.

According to minutes of the meeting, the bank's policymakers in October agreed to raise rates if economic forecasts hold but urged caution over US policy risks.

Top gainers include Honda Motor, which closed 12.2% higher, while Toho shed 6.2%.

In Hong Kong, The Hang Seng Index rose 1.1%, or 215.16 points, to close at 20,098.29. The Shanghai Composite Index added 1.3%, or 42.27 points, to 3,393.53.

Bloomberg data showed that Chinese mainland investors continued their buying streak of Hong Kong stocks for a sixth straight day, with net inflows of HK$5.23 billion on Tuesday.

The Hang Seng TECH Index was up 1.1%, while Mainland Properties Index rose 2.2%.

Leading the upside was Orient Overseas (International), with a 7.3% increase at the session's close, while China Resources Power Holdings was down 2.8%.

On the other regional exchanges, the S. Korean KOSPI was down 0.1%; the Taiwan TWSE added 0.1%; the Australian ASX 200 was 0.2% higher; the Singapore Straits Times Index was up 0.5%, and the Thai Set rose by 0.5%.