Asia opens mixed but mostly higher

Asian stock indices opened the second session of the week mixed, with China, Australia, Hong Kong, and New Zealand higher, while South Korea lost ground, as Japan shuts down for a bank holiday. 

From New Zealand, retail sales fell 2.7%, compared to a 27.8% surge in the third quarter, while sales excluding inflation fell 3.1%. 

Later today, Fed Chair Jerome Powell will testify on the Semiannual Monetary Policy Report before the Senate Banking Committee, via satellite.

US Congress and administration are still conducting negotiations to finalize the massive $1.9 trillion rescue package for the economy to revive it. 

China's CSI 300 rose 0.30% to 5,614, while Shanghai added 0.44% to 3,658. 

Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose 1.08%, while South Korea's KOSPI declined 0.50% to 3,064. 

New Zealand's NZX 50 fell 0.37%, while Australia's S&P/ASX 200 gained 0.54% to 6,817.