Asia opens mostly lower as China reports trade data

Asian stock indices opened mixed but mostly lower, with Japan, China, Australia, and South Korea down, while New Zealand gained ground, as China reported data on trade today.

Earlier Chinese data showed the trade surplus up to 329 billion yuan, or $46.4 billion in June from 443 billion yuan in May. 

The World Health Organization has so far reported over 12.77 million Covid 19 infections worldwide with the death toll touching 570,000. 

The WHO warned that many countries are heading in the wrong direction with Covid 19 cases surging anew and hospitals filling up. 

Japan's TOPEX fell 0.38%, while Nikkei 225 shed 0.75% to 22,613. 

China's CSI 300 dropped 0.82%, while Shanghai gave up 0.64% to 3,421. 

Hong Kong's Hang Seng tumbled 1.25%, while South Korea's KOSPI slipped 0.55% to 2,174. 

New Zealand's NZX 50 rose 0.30%, while Australia's S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.74% to 5,933.