Muted Start For Hong Kong, Shanghai Markets

The local stock market has opened flat as investors took a breather after three days of gains.

The Hang Seng Index was essentially unchanged at 30,998.

In the mainland trading was also quiet, with the Shanghai Composite Index down 3.18 points to 3,088, while the Shenzhen Composite Index was flat at 1,748.

However Tokyo opened higher as a strong US jobs report continued to support the global market while the yen edged lower against the dollar, boosting Japanese exporters.

The Nikkei 225 rose 0.4 percent, to 22,556 in early trade while the broader Topix index was essentially flat at 1,780.

Stephen Innes, head of trading for Asia Pacific at Oanda, said "stock market investors remain unfazed by the prospects of trade tariffs or even higher interest rates" as consecutive monthly payroll numbers continue to support the comfortable scenario over the global economy for investors. (AFP)