Tokyo Nikkei 225 unchanged, S&P ASX 200 down 0.17% (Il Sole 24 Ore Radiocor) - Tokyo , 05 Jul - Asian shares closed mixed in cautious trade after yesterday's gains as investors awaited key US nonfarm payrolls data due later today.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose 0.2%, hovering at a more than two-year high after climbing for a fifth straight month in June, when it rose more than 3%, its best performance since February.

The regional index was up 7% so far in 2024, hovering at its highest level since April 2022.

South Korean markets outperformed as Samsung rallied after it flagged a better-than-expected profit rise as the artificial intelligence boom lifted chip prices. Japanese shares closed flat, halting a three-day rally spurred by recent data pointing to a weaker economy, which seemed to ease pressure on the Bank of Japan to increase interest rates.

Chinese shares slid as concerns over increased tensions with Taiwan weighed on sentiment, after reports said China had seized a Taiwanese fishing trawler operating near the Chinese coast.

The Nikkei index closed unchanged at 40,912 points, in Sydney the S&P ASX 200 closed down 0.17% at 7,818 points , while in Seoul the KOSPI closed up 1.26% at 2,860 points.

The Shanghai Composite index was down 0.41% at 2,945 points and the Hong Kong Hang Seng index was down 1.17% at 17,825 points. In Mumbai the Sensex index was foe 0.24% at 79,858 points.

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(RADIOCOR) 05-07-24 08:57:32 (0168) 5 NNNN