The leading Asian stock exchanges started the week in different directions in a situation where trade tariffs are again in focus due to Donald Trump's dispute with Colombia, while investors are assessing China's new generative AI tools.
In Tokyo, the important Nikkei 225 index had fallen by 0.3 percent around lunchtime, while the broader Topix index rose by 0.7.
From Hong Kong, cheerful tones were heard as the Hang Seng index climbed 1 percent.
The relative joy was also noted on Shanghai's composite index, which rose 0.3, while the composite index in Shenzhen was dominated by pessimism and fell 0.6.
