Asia opens mostly lower

Asian stock indices opened the second session of the week mixed with Japan, China, Australia, and Hong Kong down, while New Zealand gained ground, amid concerns of a mysterious  pneumonia-linked virus in China. 

Bank of Japan voted to maintain rates at minus 0.1% as expected while raising growth estimates for the first time in a year. 

Otherwise, Moody's cut its credit ratings for Hong Kong from AA3 to AA2, while the International Monetary Fund cut global growth forecasts for 2020 and 2021, pointing to persistent risks. 

The IMF warned from a recession due to inequality and financial strikes, noting current conditions are similar to the conditions in 1920s when the markets collapsed. 

Otherwise, news of a mysterious  pneumonia-linked virus in China that left several people dead has raised some concerns in the market especially before the new lunar year holiday. 

Japan's TOPEX fell 0.46% to 1,736.08, while Nikkei 225 shed 0.75% to 23,902.60. 

China's CSI 300 shed 1.49%, as Shanghai tumbled 1.22% to 3,058.14. 

Hong Kong's Hang Seng fell 1.85% to 28,262.55, while South Korea's KOSPI fell 0.60% to 2,249.06. 

New Zealand's NZX 50 rose 0.32%, while Australia's S&P/ASX 200 shed 0.43% to 7,048.