Asian stocks mixed on upbeat US data, rate hike expectations

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Asian stocks were mixed Thursday as investors took profit amid expectations that the Federal Reserve could raise interest rates more aggressively than expected following upbeat U.S. economic data.
KEEPING SCORE: Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 0.5 percent to 19,349.97 while South Korea’s Kospi edged down 0.1 percent to 2,081.32. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index gained 0.4 percent to 24,086.18 and Shanghai Composite Index rose 0.2 percent to 3,219.22. Australi