Asia Closes Mixed Amid Rate Suspense

Asia-Pacific markets closed mixed Thursday as investors bet on a rate cut by the U.S. Federal Reserve next month. In Japan, the Nikkei gave back some of the previous days’ gains, shedding 625.41 points, or 1.5%, to 42,649.26. The worst performing stocks on the blue-chip index were Socionext which plunged 8.39%, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, which declined 5.69% and Kawasaki Heavy Industries which lost 5.31%. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng retreated 94.35 points, or 0.4%, to 25,519.32. Tencent shares rose after second-quarter revenue Australian markets hit an intra-day high after the July jobs data release In other markets In Shanghai, the CSI 300 dipped 3.27 points, or 0.1%, to 4,173.31 In Korea, the Kospi index edged higher 1.29 points, or 0.04%, to 3,225.66 In Singapore, the Straits Times index dipped 16.24 points, or 0.4%, to 4,256.52 In Taiwan, the Taiex index withered 131.92 points, or 0.5%, to 24,238.10. In New Zealand, the NZX 50 gained 67.55 points, or 0.5%, to 12,834.08 In Australia, the ASX 200 regained 46.65 points, or 0.5%, to 8,873.76