news China Shares Soar as Factory Activity Expands; Australia Tumbles as Government Imposes New RestrictionsShares in Australia tumbled nearly 1.5% in reaction to the news that the country will ring in the new year with harsher restrictions. Dec 31, 2020 08:52 AM GMT The major Asia-Pacific stock indexes were mixed on Thursday with some closing early and others not opening at all. Markets in Japan and South Korea were closed for a holiday, while markets in Australia, Singapore and Hong Kong closed earlier than usual due to New Year’s Eve. In China, it was business as usual. In the cash marke...