Asian equity markets ended mixed on Thursday, as traders digested another round of Chinese data, as well as interest rate decisions from central banks in New Zealand and South Korea. The Reserve Bank of New Zealand delivered a surprise cut in interest rates, citing a weakening global outlook and tepid inflation expectations, the Bank of Korea and Malaysia's central bank left their key interest rates unchanged as expected. Chinese stocks ended lower on fading hopes of imminent stimulus measures as investors interpreted data showing consumer inflation rising faster than forecasted as being largely negative for an economy struggling to find momentum. Japanese stocks rose for the first time in four days after a bounce in oil prices overnight strengthened risk appetite, while exporters benefited from a weaker yen and expectations of further easing from the European Central Bank.
| Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
| Shanghai Composite | 2,804.73 | -57.83 | -2.02 |
| Hang Seng | 19,984.42 | -11.84 | -0.06 |
| Jakarta Composite | 4,793.20 | -17.84 | -0.37 |
| KLSE Composite | 1,690.91 | 4.56 | 0.27 |
| Nikkei 225 | 16,852.35 | 210.15 | 1.26 |
| Straits Times | 2,809.12 | -1.31 | -0.05 |
| KOSPI Composite | 1,969.33 | 16.38 | 0.84 |
| Taiwan Weighted | 8,660.70 | 26.59 | 0.31 |