Asian equity indices are exhibiting mixed trade in early deals on Thursday due to another steady performance by Wall Street shares, which hovered near record highs, while the euro clung to modest gains after rebounding from 13-month lows. Moreover, Japanese stock market was trading lower with slightly weaker yen and the overnight flat close on Wall Street prompting investors to take some profits. Amid a lack of market-moving economic news, investors are mostly seen tracking corporate earnings reports. Though some of the markets are off their early lows, buying interest is somewhat subdued. Among other markets in the Asia-Pacific region, South Korea, Indonesia, Singapore and Hong Kong are modestly higher, while Shanghai, Taiwan and Malaysia are slightly weak.
KOSPI Index surged by 5.32 points or 0.26% to 2,080.25, Hang Seng added by 20.52 points or 0.08% to 24,939.27, Jakarta Composite gained by 23.38 points or 0.45% to 5,188.63 and Straits Times was up 13.65 points or 0.41% to 3,355.11.
On the flip side, Nikkei 225 contracted by 80.46 points or 0.52% to 15,454.36, Taiwan Weighted tumbled by 14.21 points or 0.15% to 9,471.38, FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI declined by 0.21 points or 0.01% to 1,872.1 and Shanghai Composite was down by 8.09 points or 0.37% to 2,201.37.