2017.04.2706:20:00UTC+00Asian Markets Ended Mostly Higher as Trump Tax Plan Eyed

Asian equities finished mostly higher as investors digest details on U.S. President Donald Trump's tax reform plans.

Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 slipped 0.19 percent at 19,251.87. The Bank of Japan held on but raised its economic forecast. Australia's ASX 200 traded little changed earlier in the session but eventually climbed 0.16 percent at 5,921.5. South Korea's Kospi pared declines made earlier in the session to trade up by 0.07 percent at 2,209.46 as major firms posted earnings.

Shares in China ended higher after fluctuating mostly during the session. The Shanghai Composite was up 0.37 percent at 3,152.5458 after previously plunging 1.3 percent, and the Shenzhen Composite advanced 0.542 percent at 1,900.0338. It had slipped 1.778 percent earlier. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index rose 0.35 percent.

Among shares active on corporate news, Samsung Electronics said first quarter profits were the best since 2013 as a result of strong earning from its memory chip segment, according to reports. Samsung Electronics shares gained 2.43 percent at 2,192,000 won a stock.

Shares of the Korean conglomerate's other listed units traded lower after reports that the firm will not restructure. Samsung SDI fell 2.86 percent, Samsung C&T tumbled 6.84 percent while Samsung Engineering sank 6.04 percent at 12,450 won a stock.

LCD panel maker LG Display posted record quarterly earnings however, its shares dropped 4.94 percent at 29,850 won per stock.

Gaming stocks in greater China leaped over three percent across the board in the previous session but eventually pared gains. Sands China lost 2.99 percent, Galaxy Entertainment slipped 2.72 percent and Wynn Macau fell 2.74 percent.

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