05:33 AM EST, 02/04/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Asian stock markets moved higher on Tuesday on possible easing of trade tensions in Washington, and on the outlook for China-based tech industries.

Hong Kong and Tokyo finished in the green, as did most other regional exchanges. Shanghai remained closed on holiday, but will reopen on Wednesday.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 opened higher and held ground, finishing up 0.7% after US President Donald Trump delayed by 30 days planned tariffs on Canada and Mexico, somewhat calming concerns about trade wars.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 rose 278.28 to 38,798.37, as gaining issues outnumbered losers 139 to 83.

Leading the upside was Sumitomo Pharma, up 9.7%, while Mitsubishi Motors declined 14.7%, the latter after reporting earnings.

In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index gained ground as traders embraced tech issues on the outlook for development of China-based AI enterprise.

The broad gauge Hang Seng rose 572.70 to 20,789.96, as gaining issues outnumbered losers 71 to 10. The Hang Seng TECH Index gained 5.1% on the day, while the Mainland Properties Index rose 1.1%.

Leading the upside was knitwear-maker Shenzhou International, gaining 8.7%, while online-gaming house NetEase declined 1.1%.

On the other regional exchanges, the South Korean KOSPI rose 1.1%; the Taiwan TWSE inclined 0.4%; the Australian ASX 200 declined 0.1%; the Singapore Straits Times Index fell 0.1%, and the Thai Set declined 0.3%. In late trading in Mumbai, the Sensex was up 1.5%