Asia stocks were mixed on Thursday as investors assessed the prospects of economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. In Japan, the Nikkei 225 rose 0.36% to close at 22,695.74 while the Topix index ended its trading day 0.3% higher at 1,603.82. South Korea's Kospi also closed 0.19% higher at 2,151.18, adding to its nearly 3% Wednesday gains. Mainland Chinese stocks were mixed on the day, with the Shenzhen component up 0.278% to about 11,139.26. The Shanghai composite, on the other hand, shed 0.14% to around 2,919.25. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index was 0.27% lower, as of its final hour of trading. Meanwhile, shares in Australia rose by the market close, with the S&P/ASX 200 up 0.84% to 5,991.80. Australia retail sales for April plunged a seasonally adjusted 17.7% in April, according to data released Thursday by the country's Bureau of Statistics. Overall, the MSCI Asia ex-Japan index edged 0.1% higher.
