Asian shares: Japan, China shares outperform

Japanese and Chinese stock markets stood out against a mostly lackluster backdrop in Asia on Tuesday. The China’s Composite Index continued to slump, losing 2.4 per cent. The CSI300 index of the major listed companies in Shanghai and Shenzhen rose 33.62 points, or 1.31 per cent, to 2,599.35 at the end of the morning session, while the Shanghai Composite Index gained 32.78 points, or 1.32 per cent, to 2,506.44. The Hang Seng index added 149.26 points, or 0.63 per cent, to 23,893.96. Total volume of A shares traded in Shanghai was 25,422.99 million shares. Volumes on the HSI index were at 1,966.36 million shares. Hong Kong shares finished up on Monday trading. The HSI index rose 194.46 points, or 0.83 per cent, to 23,744.7, while the Hong Kong China Enterprises Index gained 76.49 points, or 0.73 per cent, to 10,615.82. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS erased early losses and eked out a 0.1 per cent gain. Japan's Nikkei stock average .N225 added 1.4 per cent, according to Reuters.