Uneven stock markets in Asia as Topix and Hang Seng rise while Nikkei, Kospi, Shenzhen and Shanghai fall

Among those falling was Japan's Nikkei 225, which was down 0.1 percent at lunchtime. However, the broader Topix index rose 1.1 percent.

The Hong Kong-based Hang Seng was also up 0.7 percent.

However, the South Korean Kospi did not follow this trend, losing 0.8 percent.

In China, there were also gloomy signs, with Shenzhen down 0.7 percent and Shanghai down 0.2 percent.