Asian shares mixed after lackluster day on Wall Street

TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares were mixed on Wednesday after Wall Street began the post-holiday week on a lackluster note.

Shares rose in Tokyo and Sydney, fell in China and were little changed in South Korea. A weakening in growth in Chinese manufacturing, based on surveys of factory managers, has undermined buying sentiment.

Market players are looking ahead to U.S. jobs data, which are also likely to show growth. They’re also keeping an eye on comments by Federal Reserve officials on inflation, a concern overhanging markets as economies regain momentum with the rollout of coronavirus vaccines, especially in the United States.

Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 added 0.5% to finish at 28,946.14. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 jumped 1.1% to 7,217.80. South Korea's Kospi was little changed, edging less than 0.1% lower to 3,221.54. Hong Kong's Hang Seng lost 0.6% to 29,281.37, while the Shanghai Composite dropped 0.8% to 3,596.42.

India's Sensex declined 0.8%. Shares rose in Taiwan and Jakarta, but fell in Singapore.

Economies are bouncing back rapidly from the damage and disruptions caused by the pandemic, analysts say.

“The speed of recovery bears little resemblance to those from past downturns, which should give some hope that less economic scarring will result,” RaboResearch said in a market commentary.

Progress lags in Japan and much of Asia, where vaccination programs have lagged, though they are beginning to pick up speed even as many countries grapple with severe coronavirus outbreaks.

U.S. markets were closed Monday for Memorial Day and trading was wobbly on Tuesday, with a mixed finish for major stock indexes, as losses in technology and health care companies offset gains elsewhere in the market.

The S&P 500 gave up an early gain, slipping less than 0.1% to 4,202.04....