Mixed outlook for Asian markets

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Mixed outlook for Asian markets

Asia-Pacific markets are mixed as investors bounce back from a strong week and look ahead to major central bank meetings planned ahead. The U.S. Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meets on June 13-14, the European Central Bank on Thursday and the Bank of Japan's meeting ends on Friday. In Japan, the Nikkei 225 rose 0.68 percent and remained near 33-year highs, while the Topix rose 0.7 percent. South Korean markets were all lower, with the Kospi down 0.48 percent and the Kosdaq down 0.13 percent. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index started the week down 0.43 percent, while mainland Chinese markets were more mixed. The Shanghai Composite Index fell 0.45 percent, but the Shenzhen Component Index gained 0.2 percent. Australian markets are closed for a holiday. On Wall Street last week, the S&P 500 posted its fourth straight weekly gain and brushed aside its highest mark since August. The S&P 500 rose 0.11 percent, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.13 percent and the Nasdaq Composite rose 0.16 percent.