Asia opens mixed as US-China tensions hurt appetite

Asian stock indices opened the third session of the week mixed with Australia, New Zealand, South Korea higher, while China declined, as US-China political tensions hurt risk appetite. 

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand released its report on financial stability, expressing confidence the system will survive the current Covid 19 shock. 

US President Donald Trump said he'll announce counter measures for China's Hong Kong acts by the end of the week, with reports indicating Washington might impose sanctions on Chinese officials, with possible freezing to assets of Chinese companies and officials. 

The Chinese Parliament passed a national security law for Hong Kong that gives Beijing more control over the semi-independent city following months of protests. 

Officials in Hong Kong warned of "growing terrorism" in the city to justify the new measures. 

Otherwise, Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe lifted the emergency state thisweek, adding Japan has managed to control the pandemic. 

According to World Health Organization data, global cases of Covid 19 surpassed 5.41 million with the death toll nearing 350,000. 

Japan's TOPEX rose 0.23%, while Nikkei 225 inched down barely 0.02% to 21,266. 

China's CSI 300 fell 0.37%, while Shanghai slipped 0.19% to 2,841. 

Hong Kong's Hang Seng inched down 0.47%, while South Korea's KOSPI rose 0.15% to 2,032. 

New Zealand's NZX 50 rose 0.51%, while Australia's S&P/ASX 200 gained 0.27% to 5,795.