Asian shares mostly up

Asian markets were mostly higher on Thursday but sentiment took a hit after China released another batch of disappointing data, adding to fears about growth in the economic giant. The euro rose to a 29-month high against the dollar, while the Australian dollar also surged against its US counterpart after Sydney reported a jump in full-time employment. Tokyo fell 0.10 percent, or 14.41 points, to finish at 14,815.98 and Hong Kong was down 0.67 percent, or 145.87 points, at 21,756.08 but Sydney rose 0.53 percent, or 28.4 points, to close at 5,412.6. Seoul added 0.10 percent, or 1.84 points, to 1,934.38. Shanghai jumped 1.07 percent, or 21.42 points, to end at 2,019.11, with analysts suggesting Chinese policymakers should start looking at moves to boost economic growth. China said industrial output, which measures production at factories, workshops and mines, rose 8.6 percent year on year in January and February, the slowest rate since April 2009, at the height of the global financial crisis, according to BBC.