Asian stock markets rise on data from China

Asia-Pacific stocks were mostly higher as investors assessed a range of key economic data in the region. China’s National Bureau of Statistics reported that its manufacturing index rose to 52.6 in February, the highest since April 2012. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index rose 3.04 percent. The Hang Seng Tech Index led gainers in the region and rose 4.6 percent. In mainland China, the Shenzhen Component fell 0.89 percent and the Shanghai Composite Index also fell 0.69 percent. In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.11 percent as fourth-quarter 2022 GDP is projected to rise 0.5 percent. In Japan, the Nikkei 225 was flat and the Topix fell 0.1 percent as factory activity fell for two and a half years in February.