Asian stock markets mixed

Hong Kong shares rose nearly 3 percent after a local outlet reported that the city was considering further easing Covid rules. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index rose on Thursday after a local news outlet reported that the city was considering further easing Covid measures, including lifting mask rules outdoors and easing mandatory testing for arrivals. The Hang Seng index rose 2.83 percent and the Hang Seng Tech index added 5.44 percent. In mainland China, the Shenzhen Component fell 0.131 percent. Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 0.74 percent and the Topix lost 0.65 percent. South Korea’s Kospi lost 0.6 percent. In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.56 percent. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose 0.54 percent. U.S. stocks also fell overnight, with the S&P 500 falling for a fifth straight day.