Asian shares mixed

HONG KONG: Asian stocks were mixed Tuesday as traders awaited the result of a Bank of Japan policy meeting, following disappointing Japanese quarterly growth figures the day before.

After a day of gains, Asia´s markets had no cues from Wall Street which was closed for the annual Presidents´ Day holiday, while European markets ended mixed.

Tokyo´s Nikkei-225 index moved higher, trading up 0.92 percent by mid-morning, while Hong Kong slipped 0.32 percent, Shanghai lost 0.68 percent and Seoul fell 0.37 percent. Sydney was flat, edging down 0.03 percent. Asian stocks rose the day before, mirroring a buoyant Wall Street, as investors regained their confidence in the US economy following a stimulus cut by the US Federal Reserve and as China increased its credit supply.

Investors were eyeing the result of a two-day policy meeting by the Bank of Japan due to wrap up Tuesday afternoon, with expectations the central bank will hold off fresh easing measures.

"Comments from the Bank of Japan following its two-day policy meeting will be eyed -- especially since Monday´s October-December GDP figures were poor. But expectations for truly meaningful announcements are slim," Hiroichi Nishi, SMBC Nikko Securities general manager of equities, said.

While the world´s number three economy grew 1.6 percent over 2013 -- its best performance in three years -- it slowed to 0.3 percent in the October-December quarter, presenting a major challenge for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe´s bid to stoke growth after almost two decades of deflation.

US stocks vaulted higher in their Friday session, as investors shrugged off a report showing poor industrial output last month as being mainly weather-related.