Asian markets mixed as worries wane

Asian markets were mixed today as investors appeared to take in their stride another big drop on Wall Street on Friday.

Asian markets were mixed today as investors appeared to take in their stride another big drop on Wall Street on Friday.

Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 index was down 0.35 per cent to 17,223.8 in afternoon trading, after tumbling 2.4 per cent Friday. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index edged down 0.05 per cent at 22,559.47.

But Australia's benchmark index was up 0.24 per cent, and Indian shares were higher in morning trading. In China, the Shanghai Composite index was up 0.9 per cent at a new intraday record.

A plunge on Wall Street on Thursday triggered a global sell-off late last week amid mounting worries that problems in the US subprime mortgage market and higher corporate borrowing costs could cramp growth in the US economy or prompt investors to pull out of riskier assets in emerging markets.