Asia report: Markets mixed on another quiet day

Markets in Asia finished mixed on Tuesday, after a flat Monday on which a number of major indices around the world were closed for public holidays.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 was down 0.02% at 19,677.85, while the yen strengthened on the greenback.

It was last ahead 0.3% at JPY 110.94 per $1.

Household spending was down 1.4% in the country in April - a wider fall than the 0.7% expected by analysts.

Retail sales were higher, however, improving 3.2% year-on-year, compared to the forecast 2.3% growth.

Shares in troubled technology giant Toshiba were down 0.57% after news emerged that Western Digital could jump onboard a consortium set to buy into the company’s prized memory chip business.

The consortium also involved a government-backed fund and KKR & Co.

Western Digital has previously attempted to block the sale of the chip-making division.

Markets in both mainland China and the Hong Kong special administrative region were closed on Tuesday for a public holiday.

In South Korea, the Kospi was down 0.39% at 2,343.68.

Oil prices were mixed during Asian trading, but were lower across the board as Europe took the baton.

Brent crude was last down 0.79% at $51.88 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate lost 0.75% to $49.63.

In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 added 0.19% to 5,717.89, while across the Tasman Sea the S&P/NZX 50 was off 0.01% at 7,411.95.

The down under dollars were both stronger on the greenback, with the Aussie last advancing 0.13% to AUD 1.3424 and the Kiwi moving ahead 0.2% to NZD 1.4143.