06:50 AM EDT, 10/23/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Asian stock markets turned in a choppy Thursday, following media reports the Trump Administration is weighing export restrictions of US-made software to China, thus exacerbating trade tensions.

Hong Kong and Shanghai gained, but Tokyo finished in the red. Other regional exchanges were also uneven.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 opened lower and could not recover, finishing 1.4% as traders eyed souring China-US trade relations, and booked profits after recent rallies following Liberal Democratic Party leader Sanae Takaichi's attainment of the Prime Minister position.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 fell 666.18 to 48,641.61, as losing issues outnumbered gainers 128 to 96.

Leading the upside was Sumitomo Heavy Industries, up 11.3%, while chipmaker Renesas Electronics declined 5.6%.

In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index opened lower but rose to the close after China official confirmed that Vice Premier He Lifeng will meet with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent over the weekend, in Malaysia.

The broad gauge Hang Seng rose 186.21 to 25,967.98, as gaining issues outnumbered losers 61 to 27. The Hang Seng TECH Index gained 0.5% on the day, while the Mainland Properties Index was flat.

Leading the upside was garment-maker Li Ning, gaining 6.6%, while toy-maker Pop Mart International declined 9.4%.

On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite rose 0.2% to 3,922.41.

On the other regional exchanges, the S. Korean KOSPI fell 1%; the Taiwan TWSE declined 0.4%; the Australian ASX 200 was flat; the Singapore Straits Times Index rose 0.5%, and the Thai Set inclined 0.9%. In late trading in Mumbai, the Sensex was up 0.2%.