06:38 AM EDT, 05/23/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Asian stock markets churned on Friday as traders weighed tariffs and interest rates.

Hong Kong and Tokyo finished in the green, while Shanghai lagged. Other regional exchanges were also choppy.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 opened higher and held ground, finishing up 0.5% as bond yields on Japanese government debt eased.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 rose 174.60 to 37,160.47, as gaining issues outnumbered losers 145 to 75.

Leading the upside was Japan Steel Works, up 10.1%, while online marketplace Mercari declined 3.2%.

In economic news, Japan's widely quoted core CPI, which strips out certain fresh food costs, rose 3.5% on the year, up from a 3.2% year-on-year rise in March, partly as government utility subsidies were phased out, reported Statistics Japan.

In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index edged up 0.2% at the close as traders weighed easing bond yields in the US and Japan.

The broad gauge Hang Seng rose 56.95 to 23,601.26, as gaining issues outnumbered losers 42 to 38. The Hang Seng TECH Index lost 0.1% on the day, while the Mainland Properties Index fell 0.7%.

Leading the upside was CSPC Pharmaceutical, gaining 2.2%, while Chow Tai Fook Jewelry declined 3.3%.

On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite fell 0.9% to 3,348.37.

On the other regional exchanges, the S. Korean KOSPI fell 0.1%; the Taiwan TWSE declined 0.1%; the Australian ASX 200 rose 0.2%; the Singapore Straits Times Index rose 0.1%, and the Thai Set advanced 0.2%. In late trading in Mumbai, the Sensex was up 1%.

The Stoxx Asia/Pacific 600 Index rose 0.3% on the day.