Asian Stock Markets Close Mixed

Major Asian stock markets closed Wednesday mixed amid an unexpected rate cut by the Chinese central bank and Japan's second quarter growth figure.

The Asia Dow, which includes blue-chip companies in the region, was up by 21.7 points, or 0.65% to 3,357.08 points.

Tokyo's Nikkei 225 stock exchange performed the best, surging 324.8 points, or 1.14%, to 28,871 following strong economic data from the country.

Official data showed that industrial production in Japan rose at the fastest monthly pace on record in June, up 9.2% from May.

The Japanese economy expanded an annualized 2.2% in the second quarter after a 0.1% year-on-year growth in the previous quarter.

The Hang Seng, the benchmark for blue-chip stocks trading on the Hong Kong stock exchange, fell 134.8 points, or 0.67%, to 20,040.

China's Shanghai Stock Exchange was flat at 3,276 points.

The People's Bank of China lowered medium-term lending rate and seven-day reverse repo rate both by 10 basis points to 2.75% and 2%, respectively amid weak industrial production and retail sales growth.

The Indian Sensex benchmark rose 130 points, or 0.22%, to end the day at 59,462 points, while the Singapore index fell 11.4 points, or 0.35%, to close at 3,257. -