Asian shares mixed with Tokyo down following public holiday

Investing.com - Asian shares were mixed Tuesday with Tokyo down in catch-up trade following a public holiday on Monday.

The Nikkei 225 fell 1.7% as it mirrored the region's losses a day earlier. The Nikkei is on pace for its fifth straight loss in a row.

Other Asian markets were more buoyant.

Australia's S&P/ASX 200 bounced up 1.1% and South Korea's KOSPI was up 0.2%.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index gained 0.7% as police took measures to clear roads and opened a major road as authorities step up efforts to clear students who have blocked streets for more than two weeks.

Utilities and communication stocks led gains; analysts said the use of phones and the Internet over the pro-democracy protests were a positive for those stocks. Among the heavyweights, China Mobile Ltd (HK:0941) was up 0.4% and China Unicom Ltd (HK:0762) was up 0.7%. 

In the U.S., markets were closed for Columbus Day.