Stocks in the Asia-Pacific region closed mixed on Tuesday, as earnings season in the US began. Energy companies were higher as oil prices hit 2019 highs, after Washington formally announced that it will not reissue sanctions waivers in May to buyers of Iranian crude oil. The Shanghai Composite went down 16 points, or 0.5% to 3,199; and the Hang Seng dropped 68 points, or 0.2% to 2,9895 while the Nikkei 225 advanced 42 points, or 0.2% to 22,260; the Kospi rose 4 points, or 0.2% to 2,221; and Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 increased 60 points, or 1% to 6,319.