Asia opens mostly higher as Japan, China shut down

Asian stock indices opened the fourth session of the week mixed but mostly higher, with Australia, Hong Kong, South Korea higher, while New Zealand lost ground, as Japan and China close down markets for national holidays. 

From Australia, consumer inflation expectations rose to 3.7% from 3.4% in January. 

Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose 0.01% to 30,040, while South Korea's KOSPI rose 0.52% to 3,100. 

New Zealand's NZX 50 fell 0.42%, while Australia's S&P/ASX 200 climbed 0.04% to 6,859.