Asian shares mostly gain after mixed session on Wall Street

Asian shares are mostly higher after a day of mixed results on Wall Street

Asian shares were mostly higher on Thursday after a mixed trading session on Wall Street.

Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 index was little changed after the release of disappointing factory and retail sales data. Shares fell in Hong Kong but most other regional benchmarks advanced.

Japanese investors appeared to take in stride the choice of former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida to head the ruling Liberal Democrats and thus become the next prime minister.

China Evergrande Group's shares fell 4.9% as reports said the company, which is struggling to whittle down its debt, was likely to miss another payment on a bond.