Asian shares were mostly higher on Tuesday with little major news to drive trading. Japan’s benchmark edged lower, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index rose as China’s finance minister expressed confidence over the government’s ability to handle rising levels of debt.
KEEPING SCORE: The Nikkei 225 stock index in Tokyo edged 0.2 percent lower to 19,345.49 but most other indexes gained. The Hang Seng gained 0.3 percent to 23,673.80 and the Shanghai Composite index was flat at 3,234.76. Australia’s S&P ASX 200 climbed 0.2 percent to 5,755.10 and South Korea’s Kospi was up 0.5 percent to 2,091.14. Shares in Taiwan and Southeast Asia were higher.
