Asian Markets Update: Markets End Mixed Ahead of U.S. Election

TOKYO -- Asian stock markets ended mixed ahead of the U.S. presidential election Tuesday, as Japan and South Korea edged lower and Taiwan and Hong Kong managed to book gains.

In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 closed down 31.1 points, or 0.2%, at 15,340.3 and the Topix index, which includes all shares listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, fell 2.6, or 0.2%, to 1452.7.

Japanese tech shares turned in a mixed performance Tuesday, as Sony(SNE) fell 220 yen, or 2.4%, to 9,140 ($85.05) and NEC (NIPNY) ended up 55 yen, or 2.4%, at 2,340.

The broader Tokyo market was also a mix of upward and downward pressure for major stocks. Wireless operator NTT DoCoMo (NTDMY) helped push things up, ending up 70,000 yen, or 2.3%, at 3.1 million, but Bank Tokyo Mitsubishi (MBK) fell 29 yen, or 2.3%, to 1,259.

The dollar traded at 107.46 yen, up from 107.12 yen Monday.

Elsewhere, Taiwan's TWSE index surged 220.3, or 3.9%, to 5877.8, after Morgan Stanley Capital International said it will increase the country's weighting in its indices. That means mean indexed funds will have to follow suit and buy Taiwanese shares. Chipmaker Taiwan Semiconductor (TSM) rose 6.9% to 116.50 Taiwan dollars ($3.62).

Hong Kong's Hang Seng index also ended in the plus column, rising 149.6, or 1%, to 15,820.8. Index heavyweight China Mobile (CHL) helped carry the index higher, rising HK$0.75, or 1.4%, to 53.75 ($6.89), along with bank HSBC (HBC), which rose 0.4% to HK$116.50.

South Korea's Kospi index fell 3.3, or 0.6%, to 553.4, as Old Economy shares weighed on the market.

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