05:46 AM EST, 11/06/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Asian stock markets turned in a mixed Wednesday, as traders mulled US election results and related geopolitical and macroeconomic issues.

Tokyo gained, Hong Kong declined, and Shanghai edged lower, while other regional exchanges were also choppy.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 opened higher and rose to the close, finishing up 2.6% as traders anticipated that higher US interest rates in prospects that a return of Donald Trump to the White House would lead to a stronger US dollar, and higher reported earnings for Japanese exporters.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 rose 1,005.77 to 39,480.67 as gaining issues outnumbered losers 167 to 52.

Leading the upside was heavy-equipment maker IHI, rising 19.3%, while online marketplace Mercari declined 16%, with both moves after the companies filed financial results.

In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index opened lower and declined to the close, finishing off 2.2% as traders took to sidelines on media reports of a likely election victory by Trump, and sentiment on likely US trade policies.

The broad gauge Hang Seng fell 468.59 to 20,538.38, as losing issues outnumbered gainers 76 to eight. The Hang Seng TECH Index lost 2.5% on the day, while the Mainland Properties Index fell 0.9%.

Leading the upside was auto-dealer Zhongsheng, gaining 3.4%, while knitwear-maker Shenzhou International declined 5.6%.

On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite fell 0.1% to 3,383.31.

On the other regional exchanges, the S. Korean KOSPI fell 0.5%; the Taiwan TWSE inclined 0.5%; the Australian ASX 200 inclined 0.8%; the Singapore Straits Times Index rose 0.6%, and the Thai Set declined 1%. In late trading in Mumbai, the Sensex was up 1.1%.