Asian equity indices are exhibiting mixed trade in early deals on Thursday on the back of overnight mixed close on Wall Street following the release of some soft economic data weighing on stocks. On the regional front, the Japanese stock market declined as the yen strengthened and energy companies led losses as crude oil slid to a four-year low. Chinese Shanghai Composite rose for a sixth day, led by financial and energy companies, amid signs the government is loosening monetary policy further after cutting interest rates for the first time since 2012. Among other markets in the Asia-Pacific region, Shanghai, Indonesia, South Korea and Taiwan are notably higher, while Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore are trading weak.
Nikkei 225 tumbled by 145.97 points or 0.84% to 17,237.61, Hang Seng dipped 116.70 points or 0.48% to 23,995.28, Straits Times contracted by 2.22 points or 0.07% to 3,347.44 and FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI was down by 9.33 points or 0.51% to 1,832.84.
On the flip side, KOSPI Index gained 5.12 points or 0.26% to 1,985.96, Jakarta Composite increased by 6.91 points or 0.13% to 5,139.94, Shanghai Composite improved 11.45 points or 0.44% to 2,615.79 and Taiwan Weighted was up by 51.52 points or 0.56% to 9,173.91.