05:53 AM EST, 11/25/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Wall Street signals lifted most Asian stock indices, although China-exposed exchanges again fell back on dwindling hopes for aggressive economic stimulus from Beijing.

Tokyo and most regional markets finished in the green, while Hong Kong and Shanghai held back.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 opened higher and held ground, finishing up 1.3% as traders eyed green Wall Street cues and futures.

A generally soft yen aided export issues.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 rose 496.29 to 38,780.14, as gaining issues outnumbered losers 143 to 79.

Leading the upside was Keisei Electric Railway, up 13.8%, while online marketplace Mercari declined 4.1%.

In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index opened evenly but declined in trading, finishing down 0.4% as traders again awaited news of Beijing macroeconomic measures.

The broad gauge Hang Seng lost 78.98 to 19,150.99, as losing issues outnumbered gainers 49 to 32. The Hang Seng TECH Index lost 0.3% on the day, while the Mainland Properties Index fell 0.4%.

Leading the upside was Sinopharm, gaining 2.7%, while Bank of China Hong Kong declined 4.9%.

On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite fell 0.1% to 3,263.76.

On the other regional exchanges, the S. Korean KOSPI rose 1.3%; the Taiwan TWSE added 0.2%; the Australian ASX 200 gained 0.3%; the Singapore Straits Times Index declined 0.4%, and the Thai Set lost 0.2%. In late trading in Mumbai, the Sensex was up 1.3%.