Asian stock markets were mixed Wednesday, with resources plays rising sharply in Sydney on strong copper imports from China, though exporters in Seoul and Tokyo pulled back as sentiment remained fragile amid continued caution over the euro-zone debt crisis.

Nikkei 225 8,448 +25.62 +0.30%

Hang Seng 19,158 +154.16 +0.81%

S&P/ASX 200 4,188 +35.29 +0.85%

Shanghai Composite 2,276 -9.70 -0.42%

James Hardie Industries SE (JHX), a maker of building materials that gets most of its sales in the U.S., climbed 3 percent in Sydney. AU Optronics Corp. (2409), a supplier of liquid-crystal displays to Nokia Oyj and Dell Inc., gained 4.4 percent in Taipei. China Unicom (Hong Kong) Ltd. fell 3.7 percent amid concern competition will increase among mainland telecoms.

James Hardie rose 3 percent to A$7.12 in Sydney. LG Display Co. (034220), the world’s second-largest LCD maker by sales, gained 2.7 percent to 26,800 won in Seoul.