ISTANBUL

Asian stock markets are following a positive course except China on Wednesday.

According to the data announced in the region today, the manufacturing industry Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for April in Japan was realized below expectations at 48.5, while the service sector PMI remained strong at 52.2.

On the other hand, the IMF published the April issue of the World Economic Outlook Report on Tuesday; the growth forecast for Japan's economy was reduced from 1.1% to 0.6% for this year and from 0.8% to 0.6% for next year.

The growth forecast for the Chinese economy in the emerging markets and developing economies group was lowered from 4.6% to 4% for this year and from 4.5% to 4% for next year.

Meanwhile, the growth forecast for the Indian economy for this year was reduced from 6.5% to 6.2% and from 6.5% to 6.3% for the next year.

With these developments, the Nikkei 225 index in Japan closed at 34,911 points with an increase of 2% and the Kospi index in South Korea closed at 2,525% points with an increase of 1.6%.

The Shanghai Composite Index in China fell 0.1% to 3,298 points, the Hang Seng Index in Hong Kong rose 2.35% to 22,060 points and the Sensex Index in India gained 0.2% to 79,782 points.