Stocks are mixed in Asia after a positive....>

STOCKS: Stocks are mixed in Asia after a positive start. All the major indices

opened in the green, but trended lower as the session progressed. Japan and

Australia have managed to stay in the green but mainland China and Hong Kong

have slipped into the red.

- The Nikkei 225 is last up 76 points at 22,562, shrugging off the latest

missile launch by North Korea but oscillating as yen moves. USDJPY is last up 7

pips at 111.55 but is off session lows at 111.38 hit just before the North

Korean missile announcement. Japanese markets have instead focused on the Senate

panel advancing the tax plan on the party line.

- In Australia the ASX 200 is up 31 points at 6015, the index took a positive

lead from US stocks to spike higher at the open. 9/11 sectors are in the green

led by utilities, consumer discretionary and financials. Big banks gain despite

some lingering concerns of a parliamentary enquiry into lenders.

- In China the Shanghai Comp os 16 points lower at 3317, while in Hong Kong the

Hang Seng is down 73 points at 29,608. Shares in China are still being hit by

worries that the CSRC could limit investor flows into Hong Kong.