Asian markets exhibit mixed trend in early deals on Tuesday

Asian stock markets are exhibiting mixed trade in early deals on Tuesday, after Wall Street notched up a late rally. The investors treading cautiously have chosen to wait for the outcome of the US Federal Reserve's two-day policy meeting that begins on Tuesday. Lingering concerns about the situation in Ukraine are also weighing on the markets to an extent. Chinese Shanghai Composite rose for the first time in five days after Ping An Insurance Co. posted a jump in profit and a gauge of small-company shares halted a six-day slide. Among other markets in the Asia-Pacific region, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Shanghai are trading higher, while Singapore and South Korea are down with modest losses. Indonesia is down marginally. Shanghai Composite gained 3.30 points or 0.16% to 2,006.78, Hang Seng increased by 86.80 points or 0.39% to 22,219.33, KLSE Composite was up by 1.29 points or 0.07% to 1,857.03 and Taiwan Weighted was up by 50.70 points or 0.58% to 8,860.41. On the flip side, Jakarta Composite dropped by 6.46 points or 0.13% to 4,812.30, Straits Times slipped 11.71 points or 0.36% to 3,231.00 and Seoul Composite was down by 4.95 points or 0.25% to 1,964.31. Japanese markets remained shut for the trade today for Showa Day holiday.