Asia opens mostly lower as coronavirus spreads rapidly outside China

Asian stock indices opened the fourth session of the week mixed but mostly lower, with Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, and South Korea down, wile Chinese stocks eked out gains. 

Earlier New Zealand data showed the trade deficit at 340 million dollars, compared to a surplus of 384 million in December. 

South Korea's central bank maintained rates with no change, subverting expectations of a rate cut as cases there surged to 1,500. 

Japanese Prime Minisrer Shinzo Abe asked for putting off all sports or cultural gatherings for two weeks to contain the virus, while noting the economy is improving well. 

Abe asserted his government is still preparing for the Tokyo Olympiad 2020 despite reports of a possible cancellation. 

The World Health Organization said the coronavirus is still containable, adding the death toll hasn't surged out of control yet and it's still too early to call it a global epidemic. 

China's CSI 300 rose 0.26%, while Shanghai climbed 0.14% to 2,992. 

Hong Kong's Hang Seng slid 0.83%, while South Korea's KOSPI dropped 0.73% to 2,061. 

New Zealand's NZX 50 shed 0.67%, while Australia's S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.91% to 6,647.