HONG KONG (MarketWatch) -- Asian stocks traded mixed midday Monday, with the banking and resource sectors dragging Hong Kong and Australian markets lower, while mainland Chinese and Japanese stocks pulled higher. Japan's Nikkei Stock Average (JP:NI225 9,498, -1.76, -0.02%) rose 0.2% as exporters jumped on bargain buying and short-covering after recent losses. China's Shanghai Composite gained 0.5%, extending its advance on the back of a rising yuan and abundant liquidity, while New Zealand's NZX 50 added 0.2%. Among losers, Australia's S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.9%, Hang Seng Index dropped 0.9%, South Korea's Kospi gave up 1% and India's Sensex lost 0.7%. Shares of BHP Billiton Ltd. (AU:BHP 41.18, -0.47, -1.13%) (BHP 82.41, -0.33, -0.40%) gave up 1.2% and Australia & New Zealand Banking Corp. (AU:ANZ 23.58, -0.23, -0.97%) (ANZBY 23.57, -0.17, -0.72%) lost 0.8% in Sydney, while in Hong Kong, HSBC Holdings PLC (HK:5 80.95, -1.95, -2.35%) (HBC 52.28, -0.77, -1.45%) dropped 2.2% and Cnooc Ltd. (CEO 210.27, -3.07, -1.44%) (HK:883 16.18, -0.20, -1.22%) slid 2%. In Shanghai, Air China Ltd. (AIRYY 28.15, +0.30, +1.08%) (CN:601111 14.80, -0.40, -2.63%) gained 4.1% to lead the way up amid hopes the rising yuan would lower fuel costs for airlines.

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