Asian stock markets track economic data from the region

Asian stocks were mixed on Tuesday as a Caixin special survey compiled by S&P Global showed China’s factory activity fell into contraction territory for the first time since April, according to a Caixin survey compiled by S&P Global. The purchasing managers’ index came in at 49.2 in July, compared with the 50.3 expected by economists. That came a day after official data showed factory activity in the country remained in contraction territory for a fourth straight month. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index rose another 0.63 percent, but mainland Chinese markets bucked the trend and were all in negative territory. The Shanghai Composite Index was down marginally and the Shenzhen Component Index was down 0.1 percent. In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.25 percent ahead of the Reserve Bank of Australia’s interest rate decision. The Reserve Bank of Australia left interest rates unchanged at 4.10, contrary to market expectations for a final rate hike. Japan's Nikkei 225 rose 0.45 percent, while the Topix rose 0.39 percent as the country's unemployment rate fell to 2.5 percent in June. Meanwhile, South Korea's Kospi rose 1.13 percent and Kosdaq rose 1.19 percent.