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Australia shares start new year trading flat Australia shares start new year higher in light trade
(about 2 hours later)
Australian shares started the new year flat in thin trading with many of the region's markets closed ahead of the first full week of trading in 2015. Asian shares started the new year higher in thin trading with many of the region's markets closed ahead of the first full week of trading in 2015.
Weak factory activity in China weighed on Australian shares as China is the country's biggest trading partner. But, weak factory activity in China capped gains as many countries are dependent on the Asian giant's growth.
China's official Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) slipped to 50.1 in December, the lowest level of 2014, from 50.3 in November.China's official Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) slipped to 50.1 in December, the lowest level of 2014, from 50.3 in November.
In Sydney, the S&P/ASX 200 traded flat to 5,413.30 points. In Hong Kong, the benchmark Hang Seng index rose 0.4% to 23,701.93 early on.
Japanese and South Korean markets are closed on Friday for public holidays. Australian shares were higher with the S&P/ASX 200 up 0.4% to 5,431.2 points.
Shares of miners rose on last week's bounce in iron ore prices as the metal is Australia's top export earner.
Atlas Iron led the charge with shares jumping 35%, while other major firms like Fortescue Metals were up 4.4% and Rio Tinto was higher 0.7%.
Tiger Resources shares jumped 8% after a local media report quoted the company head saying the copper miner had options to refinance short-term debt.
Mainland Chinese, Japanese and South Korean markets are closed on Friday for public holidays.