Asian shares mixed as virus fears temper market optimism

Asian shares are mixed as optimism about a gradual economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic got tempered by worries over the variants spreading rapidly in some nations

TOKYO -- Asian shares were mixed Tuesday as optimism about a gradual economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic were tempered by worries over the variants spreading rapidly in some nations. Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 added 0.2% to finish at 27,888.15. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.3% to 7,562.60. South Korea's Kospi declined 0.7% to 3,239.07. Hong Kong's Hang Seng recouped early losses to add 0.9% to 26,523.74, while the Shanghai Composite edged up 0.3% to 3,506.41. While investment sentiment was buoyed by recent announcements from companies in Asia that their earnings were holding up relatively well, investors remain concerned about rising infections and possible lockdowns or other measures that will curb economic activity. “The aggressive spread of the delta variant has authorities struggling to strike a balance between containment measures and some kind of return in economic activities,” said Venkateswaran Lavanya at Mizuho Bank in Singapore.