Asia opens higher ahead of trade talks, Fed's minutes

Asian stock indices opened the third session of the week mixed but mostly higher with Japan, New Zealand, Hong Kong, and South Korea up, while Chinese and Australian stocks declined. 

President Trump said he'd be happy to cancel tariffs if a deal is reached with China, adding his administration is nearer that goal than ever. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping also said the talks will carry on in Washington this week, hoping for an agreement soon before the truce deadline in early March. 

Now investors await the Federal Reserve's meeting minutes for the January 29-30 meeting, at which policymakers voted to hold rates unchanged below 2.50%. 

Japan's Nikkei 225 rose 0.76%, or 161.73 points to 21,464.38, while China's CSI 300 rose 0.18%, or 6.33 points to 3,445.94. 

China's Shanghai index inched down 0.03%, or 0.72 points to 2,754.92. 

Hong Kong's Hang Seng rallied 1.09% to 28,536.94, while South Korea's KOSPI rose 1.24% to 2,232.89. 

New Zealand's NZX 50 added 0.26% to 9,247.98, while Australia's S&P/ASX 200 shed 0.22%, or 13.38 points to 6,093.50.