Most of the Asian equity indices are trading higher in the early deals on Thursday after the tech sector dragged US stocks lower and oil prices dropped. Though, trading in some markets was muted ahead of the Easter long weekend. Meanwhile, Japan’s Nikkei share average rose as a weaker yen lifted risk sentiments, but Takeda Pharmaceutical stumbled after it said it was considering a bid for London-listed Shire that could top $40 billion. Among the other Asian markets, Shanghai, Taiwan, South Korea, and Singapore are modestly higher. Bucking the trend, Hong Kong, Indonesia, and Malaysia are lower.
Nikkei 225 added 107.97 points or 0.51% to 21,139.28, Taiwan Weighted gained 16.99 points or 0.16% to 10,882.65, KOSPI Index spurt 5.89 points or 0.24% to 2,425.18, Shanghai Composite increased 2.8 points or 0.09% to 3,125.09, and Straits Times up by 27.62 points or 0.82% to 3,410.40.
On the flip side, Hang Seng declined 50.34 points or 0.17% to 29,972.19, Jakarta Composite dropped 16.57 points or 0.27% to 6,124.26, and FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI down by 0.02 points or 0% to 1,857.85.
