Asia stocks mixed as China’s inflation data misses expectations

 Asia stocks were mixed on Wednesday, as Chinese inflation data for May missed expectations.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 closed 0.15% higher at 23,124.95 while the Topix index declined 0.23% to finish its trading day at 1,624.71. South Korea’s Kospi closed 0.31% higher at 2,195.69.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index was fractionally lower, as of its final hour of trading. Mainland Chinese stocks were mixed on the day, with the Shanghai composite down 0.42% to around 2,943.75 while the Shenzhen component added 0.457% to about 11,335.86.

Elsewhere, the S&P/ASX 200 in Australia closed slightly higher at 6,148.40.

Overall, the MSCI Asia ex-Japan index added 0.34%.