06:36 AM EDT, 07/29/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Asian stock markets were uneven Tuesday, as traders weighed domestic politics and macroeconomic programs, and digested the start of earnings season.

Hong Kong and Tokyo finished in the red, while Shanghai gained ground. Other regional exchanges were similarly mixed.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 opened lower and could not recover, finishing off 0.8% as traders negotiated the nation's uncertain political outlook, following the weekend elections.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 fell 323.72 to 40,674.55, as losing issues outnumbered gainers 180 to 43.

Leading the upside was Nomura Research Institute, up 8.3%, while semiconductor-manufacturing equipment maker Lasertec declined 8.3%.

In other news, Japan "Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba insists on remaining in office despite calls within his party for him to step down, following the ruling coalition's major setback in the latest national election," reported The Mainichi newspaper.

In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index opened lower, wobbled, and finished off 0.2% as traders reviewed earnings reports and awaited clarity on Beijing's plan to reduce industrial overcapacity in China.

"President Xi Jinping is expected to begin a Politburo meeting this week, at which top leaders will likely restate the case for phasing out overcapacity in industries ranging from solar to electric vehicles and lithium batteries," reported the South China Morning Post.

The broad gauge Hang Seng fell 37.68 to 25,524.45, although gaining issues outnumbered losers 49 to 30. The Hang Seng TECH Index lost 0.4% on the day, while the Mainland Properties Index fell 0.2%.

Leading the upside was biopharmaceutical enterprise Wuxi AppTec, gaining 11% after reporting earnings, while smartphone- and auto-maker Xiaomi declined 2.6%.

On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite rose 0.3% to 3,609.71.

On the other regional exchanges, the S. Korean KOSPI rose 0.7%; the Taiwan TWSE declined 0.9%; the Australian ASX 200 inclined 0.1%; the Singapore Straits Times Index fell 0.3%, and the Thai Set gained 1.4%, after a three-day weekend. In late trading in Mumbai, the Sensex was up 0.6%.