Asian markets are exhibiting mixed trend in early deals on Thursday with some of the indices trading in green with marginal gains amid optimism that trade talks between the U.S. and Canada will help preserve the three-nation North American Free Trade Agreement or NAFTA. Comments by European Union's chief negotiator Michel Barnier that the bloc was prepared to offer Britain close ties even after Brexit also boosted investors’ sentiments. The Japanese Nikkei edged higher on Thursday for the eighth straight day after U.S. stocks extended their rally overnight amid optimism over trade-talks. In addition, a weaker yen lifted shares of exporters. On economic front, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said that retail sales in Japan were up a seasonally adjusted 0.1 percent on month in July. That missed expectations for an increase of 0.2 percent following the 1.5 percent spike in June. Among the other Asian markets, Indonesia and South Korea are in positive territory. On the other hand, Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong and Shanghai are in negative territory.
Taiwan Weighted decreased 13.75 points or 0.12% to 11,085.82, Straits Times declined 23.14 points or 0.72% to 3,220.78, Hang Seng dropped 173.82 points or 0.62% to 28,242.62 and Shanghai Composite was down by 22.44 points or 0.82% to 2,746.85.
On the flip side, Nikkei 225 increased 36.60 points or 0.16% to 22,884.82, Jakarta Composite gained 5.59 points or 0.09% to 6,070.74 and KOSPI was up by 1.09 points or 0.05% to 2,310.12.
