Asian markets flat in early trades

Asian markets are mostly flat in early trades today.

The Hang Seng is up eight points at 24,300. The Nikkei has moved up 16 points to 13,494.

The Shanghai Composite index has gained 26 points at 4,484.

The Taiwan Weighted index is down 10 points at 7,566. The Straits Times index has slipped 20 points to 3,030, and the Seoul Composite index has declined 24 points to 1,614.