Asia shares mixed, eyeing economies reopening, central banks

TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares are mixed Tuesday as governments inch toward letting businesses reopen and central banks step in to provide cash to economies.

Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 lost earlier gains, inching down less than 0.1% to finish at 19,771.19. South Korea's Kospi gained 0.4%, after fluctuating much of the day, to 1,930.24. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 lost 0.2% to 5,313.10. Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose nearly 1.0% to 24,510.90, while the Shanghai Composite fell 0.3% to 2,806.42.

Worries remain about fresh surges of coronavirus cases in places like China and South Korea, where they had declined as a result of social distancing, testing and arduous efforts by medical workers.

Japan's government is warning against travel during the upcoming Golden Week holidays, which start this weekend and extend into the first week of May, the biggest holiday for the nation after the New Year's holidays.

There is no lockdown in Japan but the government has declared a state of emergency, requesting that people stay home. That lasts through Golden Week, but it may be extended.

From Rome, Georgia, to Rome, Italy, companies are watching as politicians detail plans to ease up on restrictions that were meant to slow the coronavirus pandemic but also erased businesses and jobs. Retail chains, cruise lines and other businesses whose profits hinge on people stepping outside their homes jumped to some of Monday’s biggest gains. The S&P 500 climbed 1.5%.

This week is chockablock with potentially market-moving events, including meetings for several of the world’s largest central banks. Nearly a third of the companies in the S&P 500 are also scheduled to report how profitable they were in the first three months of 2020 and, more importantly, perhaps talk about how they see...