Asian stock markets post mixed figures at midweek close

ANKARA

Stock markets in Asia closed Wednesday mixed as Western sanctions on Russia were seen as more limited than expected.

After Russia officially recognized two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine and ordered troops across the border, the EU, UK, Japan, and US on Tuesday announced a series of sanctions on Russia.

The Asia Dow, which includes blue chip companies in the region, rose 15.6 points, or 0.43%, to 3,668 points at 1015GMT.

The Hang Seng, the benchmark for blue chip stocks trading on the Hong Kong stock exchange, rose 140.3 points, or 0.6%, to 23,660 at Wednesday's close.

China's Shanghai stock exchange went up 32 points, or 0.93%, to 3,489, while the Indian Sensex benchmark fell 98.9 points, or 0.17%, to close at 57,202 points.

The Singapore index also lost 2.11 points, or 0.06%, to 3,393.

The Japanese stock exchange was closed on Wednesday for a national holiday marking the emperor's birthday.