Asia opens mixed but mostly higher

Asian stock indices opened the fourth session of the week mixed, with Japan, China, Hong Kong, and South Korea higher, while Australia and New Zealand lost ground, after the US House of Representatives passed the $1.9 trillion Covid relief bill before sending it to President Joe Biden, who's expected to sign it into law soon. 

From New Zealand, food prices fell 0.9% in February, compared to a 0.9% rise in January.

From Japan, producer prices rose 0.4% in February, while analysts expected a 0.5% increase, as prices fell 0.7% y/y.

Japan's TOPEX rose 0.24%, while Nikkei 225 rose 0.49% to 29,179. 

China's CSI 300 climbed 2% to 5,103, while Shanghai advanced 1.68% to 3,414. 

Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose 1.57% to 29,360, while South Korea's KOSPI added 2.10% to 3,020. 

New Zealand's NZX 50 fell 0.08%, while Australia's S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.11% to 6,706.