BEIJING – Asian stock markets were mostly higher Wednesday after Wall Street declined as hopes for a possible coronavirus vaccine were tempered by worries about the pandemic's lingering impact.Shanghai, Hong Kong and Seoul advanced while Tokyo declined.Traders have been encouraged by announcements about possible progress toward a coronavirus vaccine.
But growing infection numbers in the United States and Europe has raised the threat of renewed restrictions on business and movement.“The reality of rising COVID-19 cases got hold of financial markets,” said Mizuho Bank in a report.The Shanghai Composite Index gained 0.5% to 3,355.69 and the Hang Seng in Hong Kong added 0.6% to 26,572.66.The Nikkei 225 in Tokyo lost 0.8% to 25,808.35 after data.