Asia Mixed in Choppy Trade

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 eked up 14.15 points, or 0.04%, to 38,801.17. The country reported loan growth of 3% year on year in January, falling slightly from December’s 3.1%.In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index ballooned 388.44 points, or 1.8%, to 21,521.98. U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters Sunday that he was planning to announce a blanket 25% tariff on all steel and aluminum imports on Monday, according to Reuters.In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index ballooned 388.44 points, or 1.8%, to 21,521.98. Singapore’s benchmark Straits Times Index hit an all-time high points, LSEG data showed, led by gains in the shares of telecommunications operator Singapore Telecommunications and well as local banks DBS Group Holdings, Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation and United Overseas BankCHINA The CSI 300 in mainland China added 8.36, or 0.2% to 3,901.06Consumer inflation in China rose to a five-month high in January on the back of higher spending in the lead up to the Lunar New Year, data released by the National Bureau of Statistics on Sunday revealed. The consumer price index rose 0.7% month on month and 0.5% annually in January — more than Reuters’ 0.4% estimate.Meanwhile, its producer price index, which captures the wholesale price of goods, fell 2.3% from thIn other marketsIn Taiwan, the Taiex index tumbled 226.13 points, or 1%, to 23,252.14.In Singapore, the Straits Times index climbed eked higher 13.71 points, or 0.4%, to 3,875.13In Korea, the Kospi index slid 0.65 points, or 0.03%, to 2,521.27.In New Zealand, the NZX 50 ditched 25.84 points, or 0.2%, to 12,876.36In Australia, the ASX 200 dropped 28.65 points, or 0.2%, to 8,482.78