Asian stock indices open mixed

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

Earlier data from New Zealand showed building permits up 0.3%, while an index tracking business confidence fell to minus 28.5 from minus 26. 

Earlier Japanese data showed retail sales rose 4.6% m/m, compared to a 3.4% drop in July, while falling 1.9% on a yearly basis, compared to a 2.9% drop in July. 

Japan's industrial production rose 1.7% m/m, slowing down from 8.7%, while falling 13.3% y/y.

Japan's housing starts fell 9.1% in August, improving from a 20.4% tumble in July. 

Earlier Chinese data showed the manufacturing PMI up to 51.5 from 51, while the services PMI rose to 55.9 from 55.2. 

Japan's TOPEX fell 0.43%, while Nikkei 225 inched down 0.12% to 23,509. 

China's CSI 300 rose 0.59%, while Shanghai climbed 0.42% to 3,237. 

Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose 1.33%, while South Korea's KOSPI rose 0.86% to 2,327. 

New Zealand's NZX 50 fell 0.28%, while Australia's S&P/ASX 200 shed 1.55% to 5,859.