05:56 AM EST, 12/10/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Asian stock markets were choppy on Tuesday, as traders weighed the outlook for China's economy, foreign exchange rates and South Korean governance.

Shanghai and Tokyo finished in the green, but Hong Kong fell back on wavering optimism that Beijing will aggressively implement economic stimulus programs. Other regional exchanges were also mixed, with Seoul notching a large gain on an improving domestic political outlook.

Bangkok exchanges were closed on holiday.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 opened higher and held ground, finishing up 0.5% as a softer yen boosted export issues.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 rose 207.08 to 39,367.58, as gaining issues outnumbered losers 123 to 99.

Leading the upside was Sumitomo Pharma, up 6.1%, while electrical equipment maker Fujikura declined 5.5%.

In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index opened higher but faltered in the afternoon, finishing off 0.5% as traders again waited for concrete signs of much-anticipated economic stimulus from Beijing.

The broad gauge Hang Seng fell 102.81 to 20,311.28 as losing issues outnumbered gainers 56 to 23. The Hang Seng TECH Index lost 1.4% on the day, while the Mainland Properties Index fell 1.9%.

Leading the upside was Macau gaming house Sands China, gaining 2.4%, while Xinyi Solar declined 5%.

On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite rose 0.6% to 3,422.66.

In other economic news, the Reserve Bank of Australia, or RBA, kept its key policy interest rate unchanged at 4.35%, citing inflation that remains above target, but the central bank hinted at monetary easing in 2025.

On the other regional exchanges, the S. Korean KOSPI rose 2.4%; the Taiwan TWSE declined 0.6%; the Australian ASX 200 declined 0.4% and the Singapore Straits Times Index rose 0.5%. In late trading in Mumbai, the Sensex was up flat.