Asia stock indices open mixed

Asian stock indices opened the third session of the week mixed with China in particular mixed, while Japan, Australia, South Korea gained ground, as New Zealand and Hong Kong declined. 

Investors are assessing the spread of the second coronavirus wave and government shutdowns after the discovery of new strains in multiple countries, weighed against the new stimulus expected to be launched by many governments soon in addition to vaccines.

From Japan, the M2 money supply rose 9.2% as expected in December, up from 9.1% in November, while machine orders rose 8.7%, up from 8.6% in November. 

The Japanese government is reportedly looking into extending the emergency state to other areas to help control the spread of the coronavirus. 

From New Zealand, consumer prices rose 1.8% in December, up from 0.9%.

Japan's TOPEX rose 0.12%, while Nikkei climbed 0.57% to 28,325. 

China's CSI 300 rose 0.02%, while Shanghai inched down 0.17% to 3,602. 

Hong Kong's Hang Seng slipped 0.02%, while South Korea's KOSPI rose 0.62% to 3,145. 

New Zealand's NZX 50 fell 0.24%, while Australia's S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.05% to 6,682.