06:40 AM EDT, 08/27/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Asian stock markets closed mixed Wednesday on a soft industrial report from Beijing and prospects of better Japan-US trade relations.

Tokyo finished in the green, while Hong Kong and Shanghai lost ground. Other regional exchanges closed mostly higher, with Mumbai trading floors closed on holiday.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 opened evenly, but rose to the close, finishing up 0.3% on media reports of an improved US-Japan trade deal in the works, while traders also weighed rising foreign interest in listed Japan enterprises.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 rose 125.87 to 42,520.27, though losing issues outnumbered gainers 117 to 103.

Leading the upside was Nikon, gaining roughly 21% on media reports that Paris-based eyewear giant EssilorLuxottica may boost its stake in the optics manufacturer.

In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index opened evenly, but closed down 1.3%, following a Beijing economic report that again pointed to a sluggish industrial sector. Property issues led decliners.

The broad gauge Hang Seng fell 323.16 to 25,201.76, as losing issues outnumbered gainers 74 to 10. The Hang Seng TECH Index lost 1.5% on the day, while the Mainland Properties Index fell 5.2%.

Leading the upside was beverage-house Nongfu Spring, gaining 7.1% after reporting earnings, while real estate company China Resources Mixc Lifestyle declined 9.1%.

On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite fell 1.8% to 3,800.35.

In economic news, mainland China's industrial profits in July fell by 1.5% on year, while for the first seven month of the year, industrial black ink was reduced by 1.7%, reported the National Bureau of Statistics.

On the other regional exchanges, the S. Korean KOSPI rose 0.3%; the Taiwan TWSE inclined 0.9%; the Australian ASX 200 gained 0.3%; the Singapore Straits Times Index was flat, and the Thai Set declined 0.3%.