06:51 AM EDT, 10/04/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Asian stock markets turned in a choppy Friday, as traders weighed Beijing plans for economic stimulus, but also Middle East turmoil and oil prices.

Hong Kong gained, Tokyo finished in the green, and Shanghai remained closed on holiday. Other regional exchanges largely finished moderately lower.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 opened evenly, see-sawed, but edged up 0.2% at the close, as traders bought into energy issues and online retailers.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 rose 83.56 to 38,635.62 as gaining issues outnumbered losers 157 to 67.

Leading the upside was online consumer marketplace Mercari, up 5.3%, while shipping line Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha declined 9.7%.

In other news, Japan's new Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba instructed his Cabinet to develop plans for relief for low-income households and to stimulate regional economies, ahead of a snap election slated for Oct. 27, reported The Mainichi newspaper.

In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index opened evenly and rose to the close, finishing up 2.8% as traders again mulled prospects for more-aggressive macroeconomic stimulus from Beijing. Tech and oil issues led gainers.

The broad gauge Hang Seng rose 623.36 to 22,736.87 as gaining issues outnumbered losers 73 to seven. The Hang Seng TECH Index gained 5% on the day, while the Mainland Properties Index rose 1.2%.

Leading the upside was Semiconductor Manufacturing International, up 29.3%, while shipping line Orient Overseas International fell 8%.

On the other regional exchanges, the S. Korean KOSPI rose 0.3%; the Taiwan TWSE declined 0.4%; the Australian ASX 200 declined 0.7%; the Singapore Straits Times Index rose 0.3%, and the Thai Set inclined 0.1%. In late trading in Mumbai, the Sensex was down 0.9%.