China Stock Markets Decline as Japan and South Korea See Gains

Upwards in Japan, downwards with emphasis in China. The larger indexes in Asia are going in different directions on Thursday.

Japanese Nikkei 225 was before lunchtime up just over 1.2 percent, with increases among several technology stocks in the wake of the sector's rise in the US a few hours earlier. Among other things, the technology and entertainment conglomerate Sony's share is rising by 2.7 percent.

South Korean Kospi is also having a good day, and had during the first hours of trading increased by approximately 0.3 percent.

In China, the stock exchange in Shenzhen is falling by 2.4 percent, while Shanghai's composite index is falling by 2.0 percent.

Hong Kong-based Hang Seng is falling by 1.3 percent.