06:49 AM EDT, 09/11/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Asian stock markets tracked unevenly higher Thursday, as investors weighed prospects for interest-rate leniency from major global central banks, and the AI-related fortunes of the tech-sector.

Shanghai and Tokyo finished in the green, although Hong Kong edged lower. Other regional exchanges were also mixed on the north side.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 opened higher and rose to the close, finishing up 1.2% and striking a fresh all-time high as traders joined the global tech-sector rally.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 rose 534.83 to 44,372.50, as although losing issues outnumbered gainers 114 to 109.

Leading the upside was tech-financier SoftBank, up 10% after partner Oracle (ORCL) shares rose 36% following an upbeat revenue forecast. Online marketplace Mercari declined 2.9%.

In economic news, Japan's producer price index (PPI) rose 2.7% on year in August, after a 2.5% on-year rise in July, reported the Bank of Japan.

The mood of Japan's larger enterprises appeared to improve Q3. For companies with capital of 1 billion yen or more, the business condition index logged at 4.7 in Q3, a turnaround from negative 1.9 in Q2, reported the Ministry of Finance.

In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index opened lower and could not recover, finishing off 0.4% as pharmaceutical issues sagged after media reports that the US Trump Administration plans restrictions on China-produced medicines.

The broad gauge Hang Seng fell 113.94 to 26,086.32 although gaining issues outnumbered losers 39 to 38. The Hang Seng TECH Index lost 0.2% on the day, while the Mainland Properties Index fell 0.5%.

Leading the upside was Semiconductor Manufacturing International, gaining 5%, while Hansoh Pharmaceuticals declined 8.8%.

On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite rose 1.7% to 3,875.31.

On the other regional exchanges, the S. Korean KOSPI rose 0.9%; the Taiwan TWSE inclined 0.1%; the Australian ASX 200 declined 0.3%; the Singapore Straits Times Index rose 0.2%, and the Thai Set inclined 0.8%. In late trading in Mumbai, the Sensex was up 0.2%.