Asian stocks follow Wall St higher amid virus uncertainty

Asian stock markets have gained as investors weighed the economic impact of the spread of the coronavirus’s delta variant

BEIJING -- Asian stock markets were mixed Wednesday as investors weighed the economic impact of the spread of the coronavirus's delta variant and Wall Street ended August with a gain for the seventh straight month. Shanghai, Tokyo and Hong Kong advanced. Sydney declined. Wall Street's benchmark S&P 500 declined 0.1% on Tuesday from the previous day's record but ended August with a 2.9% gain. Investors are optimistic about stronger U.S. corporate profits and took comments by Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell on Friday as assurance interest rates will stay low. But that is being tested by signs the virus is depressing economic activity.