Tokyo, Japan
Japan's Nikkei 225 benchmark index retreated 0.2% Reuters

Most Asian stocks began the week in positive territory as Japan revealed its economy stalled in the April to June period. Data released by the Cabinet Office showed gross domestic product was unchanged in the April to June period compared to the previous three months, missing analyst forecasts for a 0.2% increase.

The world's third largest economy had expanded 0.5% in the first three months of the year.

More from IBTimes UK

On an annualised basis, GDP was up by 0.2% for the quarter following a revised expansion of 2% in the preceding quarter.

The Nikkei benchmark index was down by 0.2% at 16,879.07 points at mid-day.

Figures showed that the Japanese economy was held back by weak household spending and sluggish exports.

"Japan's economy is likely to achieve a recovery driven by private demand though the government must be mindful of risks such as slowing emerging market growth and uncertainty over the fate of Britain's exit from the European Union," Japan's economy minister Nobuteru Ishihara was reported as saying by CNBC.

Rest of Asia

China's Shanghai Composite index was up by 2.6% at 3,130.30 points amid reports that Beijing would unveil more stimulus measures to boost the economy.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng followed the mainland higher, climbing 0.8% to 22,946.48. Elsewhere in the region, tourism-reliant Thailand posted a 3.5% year-on-year GDP growth in the second quarter, faster than the 3.2% expansion in the preceding three months.

"The recent [bomb attacks in southern Thailand] should be a one-time event and disappear," National Economic and Social Development Board secretary general Porametee Vimolsiri was reported as saying by Bloomberg. "We expect the government to keep the situation under control. We don't count this as a risk factor for the second half. Tourists have started to returned to affected areas and things are getting back to normal."

In South Korea, the Kospi benchmark was up by 0.1% to 2,050.47 points.

Australia's S&P/ASX 200 benchmark advanced 0.2% to 5,540.00.