Asian stock markets mixed

Stocks in Asia-Pacific were mixed on Wednesday after U.S. indexes fell more than 1 percent overnight as recession fears weighed on markets. Customs data showed China’s imports and exports fell more than expected in November. The Nikkei 225 in Japan fell 0.38 percent and the Topix reversed course to rise 0.18 percent. South Korea’s Kospi fell 0.13 percent and the Kosdaq was 0.29 percent lower. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was more or less flat and the Hang Seng Tech index added 0.48 percent. In mainland China, the Shanghai Composite fell 0.25 percent. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan fell 0.2 percent. In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.92% as the country's economy grew 0.6% in the third quarter, below Reuters estimates. The Reserve Bank of India is expected to announce a 35 basis point rate hike, which would bring interest rates to 6.25%.