06:38 AM EDT, 05/07/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Asian stock markets edged higher Wednesday, on reports that Beijing and Washington trade talks will resume later this week and after China's central bank cut rates.

Hong Kong and Shanghai gained, while Tokyo edged into the red. Other regional exchanges modestly gained ground.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 opened evenly but edged lower, finishing off 0.1% as investors mulled reports about US-China trade talks, but also awaited the pending rate announcement from the US Federal Reserve.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 fell 51.03 to 36,779.66, although gaining issues outnumbered losers 114 to 109.

Leading the upside was conglomerate Marubeni, up 6.4%, while drugmaker Eisai fell 4.8%.

In economic news, the headline final Japan services purchasing managers index (PMI) rose to 52.4 in April from 50.0 in March, and struck above the 50-mark that separates growth from contraction, reported S&P Global.

In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index opened solidly higher and just held on, finishing up 0.1% after US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he would seek to "de-escalate" trade tensions between Beijing and Washington, at negotiations slated for May 9 through May 12 in Switzerland.

The broad gauge Hang Seng rose 29.17 to 22,691.88 as gaining issues outnumbered losers 50 to 30. The Hang Seng TECH Index lost 0.8% on the day, while the Mainland Properties Index fell 0.2 %.

Leading the upside was Link REIT, gaining 6.7%, while Wuxi Biologics declined 6.6%.

On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite rose 0.8% to 3,342.67.

In economic news, the People's Bank of China will lower its key policy interest rate to 1.40% from 1.50% effective Thursday, the central bank announced. In addition, the ratio of cash banks must keep in reserve will be reduced, freeing up more funds for lending.

On the other regional exchanges, the S. Korean KOSPI rose 0.6%; the Taiwan TWSE inclined 0.1%; the Australian ASX 200 inclined 0.3%; the Singapore Straits Times Index rose 0.1%, and the Thai Set inclined 2.7%. In late trading in Mumbai, the Sensex was up 0.1%.