Asian stocks open mixed

Asian stock indices opened mixed with China, Japan and South Korea lower, while Australia, New Zealand, and Hong Kong gained ground, as Chinese Communist Party officials convene this week to plan out the next five years.

On the US front, chances of US Covid relief passing before the November elections evaporated as talks stall.

The US reported a new record Covid 19 daily infection rate, with Vice President Mike Pence reporting a positive Covid result. 

The World Health Organization reported 42.5 million global Covid 19 cases so far with the death toll standing at 1.147 million. 

Japan's TOPEX fell 0.17%, while Nikkei 225 declined 0.01% to 23,514. 

China's CSI 300 slipped 0.13%, while Shanghai declined 0.45% to 3,263. 

Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose 0.54%, while South Korea's KOSPI fell 0.26% to 2,354. 

New Zealand's NZX 50 rose 0.51% to 12,470, while Australia's S&P/ASX 200 climbed 0.08% to 6,172.