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Asia stocks mixed before German leader speaks
Asian stock markets were mixed Friday as markets nervously awaited a key speech by German Chancellor Angela Merkel in hopes she might unveil new steps to stanch Europe’s escalating debt crisis.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 index rose 0.2 percent to 8,613.28, and Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 gained 0.3 percent to 4,242. But South Korea’s Kospi dropped 0.3 percent to 1,910.87 and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng fell 0.4 percent to 18,925.68. Benchmarks in Taiwan, Singapore and mainland China were also lower.
Merkel will speak Friday before Germany’s parliament about Europe’s financial crisis and ahead of a summit of European Union leaders on Dec. 9, whose goal is to deliver a long-term solution to the debt crisis.
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