Asian stocks open mixed

Asian stock indices opened the last session of July mixed, with Japan, Australia, and South Korea down, while China, New Zealand, and Hong Kong gained ground, following earlier data from major economies. 

Earlier Japanese data showed industrial output rose 1.7% in June, compared to a 8.9% drop in May. 

Unemployment in Japan fell to 2.8% from 2.9%, while the consumer sentiment index rose to 29.5 from 28.4. 

Earlier Chinese data showed the manufacturing PMI up to 51.1 in July from 50.9, while the services PMI inched down to 54.2 from 54.4. 

Australia's producer prices fell 1.2% in the second quarter, compared to a 0.2% rise in the first. 

Japan's TOPEX tumbled 1.8%, while Nikkei 225 slid 1.87% to 21,920. 

China's CSI 300 rose 0.19%, while Shanghai inched up 0.19% to 3,292. 

Hong Kong's Hang Seng edged up 0.12%, while South Korea's KOSPI inched down 0.36% to 2,258. 

New Zealand's NZX 50 rose 0.08%, while Australia's S&P/ASX 200 slid 1.81% to 5,941.