Asian stocks were mixed Thursday after the U.S. Senate approved a proposed $2.2 trillion virus aid package following a delay over its details and sent the measure to the House of Representatives.
Tokyo’s market benchmark shed 4.5% and Shanghai and Hong Kong also declined. Australia and Southeast Asian markets gained. Jakarta rose almost 10%.
Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 fell 4.5% to 18,664.60 and the Shanghai Composite Index dropped 0.6% to 2,765.66. The Hang Seng in Hong Kong declined 0.9% to 23,313.16.
The Kospi in Seoul lost 0.9% to 1,688.12 and Sydney’s S&P-ASX 200 added 2.3% to 5,113.30.
India’s Sensex jumped 4.2% to 29,739.44. The Jakarta benchmark rose 9.6% and other Southeast Asian markets also advanced.
Singapore’s benchmark lost 1% after a government forecast the economy will shrink 10.6% in the current quarter compared with the three months ending in December. Singapore is preparing its second stimulus package as more businesses are told close and controls on public activity are tightened.
