Asia report: Shares mixed on weaker Wall St

Asian shares were mixed on Wednesday despite a weaker day on Wall Street as worries over the Covid-19 pandemic and a stalled effort to get a bigger cheques for US workers as part of the new stimulus package.

Japan’s benchmark Nikkei fell 0.45% and the Australian 0.27%, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was up 2% and Korea’s Kopsi rose 2.1%.

Wall Street shares fell overnight as a rally sparked by President Donald Trump’s approval of a $900bn economic relief package ran out of steam.

Trump wants $2,000 relief checks for individuals but is being held up by Republicans who control the Senate and do not want people do get extra cash above the $600 payment approved last week.