Asia Pacific stocks higher; investors watch U.S.-China tensions

Asia Stocks rose on Tuesday, with investors continuing to watch for the reopening of economies as coronavirus containment measures are eased.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 added 1.19% to close at 22,325.61 as shares of index heavyweight and conglomerate Softbank Group surged 3.33% while the Topix index finished its trading day 1.21% higher at 1,587.68. South Korea’s Kospi also closed 1.07% at 2,087.19.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index saw gains as well, rising 0.78%, as of its final hour of trading. Mainland Chinese stocks nudged higher on the day, with the Shanghai composite up 0.2% to about 2,921.40 while the Shenzhen component was fractionally higher at approximately 11,112.50.

Elsewhere, the S&P/ASX 200 in Australia closed 0.27% higher at 5,835.10.

Overall, the MSCI Asia ex-Japan index rose 0.63%.