Asian stock indices traded mixed due to escalating tensions over Ukraine. Market participants monitor developments in Ukraine. Ukrainian president said Russian forces had entered the country.
The economic data from Japan has shown that Japan's economy is struggling to recover from a sales tax hike. Japan's national consumer price index (CPI), excluding fresh food, climbed at an annual rate of 3.3% in July, in line with expectations, after a 3.3% gain in June.
Japan's national CPI rose 3.4% in July, after a 3.6% rise in June.
Household spending in Japan dropped 5.9% in July, missing forecasts of a 2.7% decline, after 3.0% decrease in June.
Retail sales in Japan increased 0.5% in July, exceeding expectations for a 0.1% decline, after a 0.6% fall in June.
Japan's unemployment rate rose to 3.8% in July from 3.7% in June. Analysts had expected the unemployment rate to remain unchanged at 3.7%.
Preliminary industrial production in Japan climbed 0.2% in July, missing expectations for a 1.4% rise, after a 3.4% decline in June.
Indexes on the close:
Nikkei 225 15,424.59 -35.27 -0.23%
Hang Seng 24,742.06 +1.06 0.00%
Shanghai Composite 2,217.2 +21.38 +0.97%