06:51 AM EDT, 06/23/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Asian stock markets churned Monday, with China-connected exchanges shrugging off global politics on strength in bank, tech and property issues.

Hong Kong and Shanghai finished higher, while Tokyo finished in the red, along with most other regional exchanges.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 opened lower on Middle East news, rallied on a softer yen, but still finished off 0.1% as traders took a cautious stance and weighed higher oil prices.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 fell 49.14 to 38,354.09, as losing issues outnumbered gainers 154 to 69.

Utility Tokyo Electric Power declined 4.2%, while Chugai Pharmaceutical rose 4.5%.

In economic news, Japan's flash composite purchasing managers index (PMI), a combination of the nation's manufacturing and service sectors, rose to 51.4 this month from 50.2 in May, and striking above the 50-mark that separates growth from contraction, reported S&P Global.

The nation's flash services PMI in June rose to 51.5 from 50.2 last month, while its flash manufacturing PMI increased to 50.4 from 49.4.

In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index opened lower but rose to the close, finishing up 0.7% on optimism regarding the China economy.

The broad gauge Hang Seng rose 158.65 to 23,689.13, as gaining issues outnumbered losers 58 to 23. The Hang Seng TECH Index gained 1.1% on the day, while the Mainland Properties Index rose 0.8%. The Mainland Banks Index rose 1.2%.

Leading the upside was Li Auto, gaining 5.5%, while Xinyi Solar declined 1.7%.

On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite rose 0.7% to 3,381.58.

On the other regional exchanges, the S. Korean KOSPI fell 0.2%; the Taiwan TWSE declined 1.4%; the Australian ASX 200 declined 0.4%; the Singapore Straits Times Index fell 0.1%, and the Thai Set lost 0.5%. In late trading in Mumbai, the Sensex was down 0.6%.

In other news, India's flash composite PMI rose to 61 in June from 59.3 last month, reported S&P Global.