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(Sharecast News) - Asian stock markets finished in mixed fashion on Tuesday after Chinese economic data came in ahead of expectations and Australia's central bank voted to keep interest rates on hold.
By the close of trade, the Asia Dow benchmark, Shanghai Composite and Singapore's STI all finished 0.5% higher, while the Hang Seng in Hong Kong gained 0.9%.
However, Tokyo's Nikkei 225 finished down 0.3%, Sydney's S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.2%, while Bombay's Sensex was 0.1% lower just before the closing bell.
In economic data, the RatingDog China manufacturing purchasing managers' index hit a six-month high of 51.2 in September, up from 50.5 in August and comfortably ahead of the 50.3 consensus forecast. The RatingDog services PMI eased to 52.9 from 53.0, but still came in ahead of the 52.3 consensus estimate.
However, China's official NBS data showed a different story, with the manufacturing PMI pointing to the sixth straight contraction in sector activity, while growth in the non-manufacturing sector stalled.
Over in Japan, industrial production fell by 1.2% in August, following a 1.2% decline in July, while retail trade weakened 1.1% after falling 1.6% the previous month, with both sets of data coming in below expectations.
Meanwhile in Australia, the RBA unanimously voted to leave interest rates unchanged at 3.6% as expected, after cutting by 25 basis points in August, keeping rates at their lowest level since April 2023. However, policymakers noted that inflation over the coming quarter could be higher than initially predicted.
"On the domestic side, stronger-than-expected data on growth and inflation may indicate that households have become more comfortable consuming as real incomes and wealth rise. If this continues, it may make it easier for businesses to pass on cost increases and lead to more demand for labour," the central bank said.
In equity news, Longyan-based gold miner Zijin Gold soared by nearly 70% on its trading debut in Hong Kong, with the company's market cap hitting nearly $40bn, as gold prices climbed to a new peak of $3,865 an ounce amid concerns over a potential US government shutdown.