HONG KONG, Jan 22: Asian markets were mixed on Tuesday, with Tokyo’s Nikkei falling and the yen strengthening as the Bank of Japan’s plan to boost the economy disappointed dealers.

After a two-day meeting the central bank said it would adopt a two per cent inflation target demanded by the country’s new government while also launching an open-ended asset-purchase scheme. Tokyo enjoyed an initial and brief surge after the announcement, jumping into positive territory, but soon fell back as investors read the details.

The Nikkei index ended 0.35 per cent, or 37.81 points, lower at 10,709.93. Seoul gained 0.49 per cent, or 9.66 points, to 1,996.52, while Sydney was flat, nudging up 1.6 points to 4,779.1.

Hong Kong was 0.29 per cent higher, adding 68.08 points, to 23,658.99 but Shanghai fell 0.56 per cent, or 13.08 points, to 2,315.14. The Japanese central bank also lifted its growth forecast, predicting gross domestic product would expand 2.3 per cent in the year ended March 2014, up from an earlier 1.6 per cent estimate.

The dollar and euro quickly rose against the yen but the advances were soon reversed. In afternoon trade the dollar, which on Friday in New York hit 90.24 yen — its highest since June 2010 — bought 89.02 yen in Tokyo against 89.50 yen late on Monday in Europe. The euro bought 118.96 yen from 119.20 yen while the single currency bought $1.3358 against $1.3320.

The US markets were closed on Monday for a public holiday, as President Barack Obama was sworn in for a second term. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who swept to power last month, has moved to bring BoJ policies into line with his new government’s position. But the plan failed greatly to impress investors.

“Upon closer review, the BoJ’s plan had already been so well telegraphed into the market that ‘merely meeting expectations’ did not cut it for investors,” an equity trading director at a foreign brokerage told Dow Jones Newswires.

“In the end, while the yen weakening over the last two months has been nice to see — and especially welcome for exporters’ margins — key US and European growth needs to return to help corporate fundamentals to improve.” Oil prices were mixed. New York’s main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in February, rose 53 cents to $96.09 a barrel in the afternoon while Brent North Sea crude for March gained 33 cents to $112.02.Gold was at $1,692.41 at 1030 GMT compared with $1,688.89 late on Monday.

In other markets: Taipei rose 0.44 per cent, or 34.18 points, to 7,759.1. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co was 0.50 per cent higher at Tw$101.0 while leading integrated circuit design house MediaTek added 0.63 per cent to Tw$318.5.

Manila fell 1.08 per cent, or 66.80 points, to 6,104.90.

Wellington was flat, edging up 1.90 points to 4,187.08. Telecom added 0.21 per cent to NZ$2.365, Contact Energy was unchanged at NZ$5.17 and Fletcher Building was down 0.11 per cent at NZ$9.29.

Singapore closed down 0.05 per cent, or 1.46 points, to 3,219.86. United Overseas Bank gained 0.91 per cent to Sg$18.80, while Fraser and Neave dropped 1.95 per cent to Sg$9.55.

Kuala Lumpur fell 6.97 points, or 0.43 per cent, to 1,628.66. Telekom Malaysia shed 0.5 per cent to 5.55 ringgit and UEM Land Holdings dipped 1.4 per cent to 2.15.

Bangkok lost 0.44 per cent or 6.39 points to 1,434.09. Oil company PTT fell 0.30 per cent to 335.00 baht, while coal producer Banpu dropped 0.75 per cent to 396.00 baht.

Jakarta ended down 23.43 points, or 0.53 per cent, at 4,416,55. Miner Aneka Tambang dropped 3.68 per cent to 1,310 rupiah and cigarette maker Gudang Garam slid 1.86 per cent to 52,700 rupiah.

Mumbai fell 0.50 per cent, or 120.25 points, to 19,981.57 points. —AFP