Asia Mixed on Japan Spending Data

Asia-Pacific markets were mixed Friday as investors assessed Japan’s household spending data.In Japan, the Nikkei 225 shed 279.51 points, or 0.7%, to 38,787.02. The country’s household spending in December rose 2.7% year on year in real terms, sharply beat Reuters’ expectations of a 0.2% rise.In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index gained 241.92 points, or 1.2%, to 21,133.54. In other marketsThe CSI 300 in mainland China surged 49.87, or 1.3% to 3,892.90.In Taiwan, the Taiex index popped 161.67 points, or 0.7%, to 23,478.27.In Singapore, the Straits Times index climbed 31 points, or 0.8%, to 3,861.42In Korea, the Kospi index ditched 14.83 points, or 0.6%, to 2,521.92.In New Zealand, the NZX 50 hiked 57.61 points, or 0.5%, to 12,902.20In Australia, the ASX 200 dropped 9.28 points, or 0.1%, to 8,511.43