Asian markets went home with green mark on Thursday, as Chinese CPI inflation released overnight dropped to 1.8% y/y in July from 2.2% y/y in June, slightly higher than consensus expectations. But decline in inflation is likely to overlay the way for a cut in the reserve requirement soon. However, Bank of Japan ended its two-day meeting this morning as it decided to keep its asset-purchase programme unchanged at JPY45trl and its key interest rate between zero and 0.1%. Meanwhile, Bank of Korea, also left its key policy interest rate unchanged on Thursday, after a surprise cut last month. South Korea's financial watchdog announced that it will investigate whether the local units of HSBC Holdings PLC and Standard Chartered were involved in money laundering.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 2,174.10 | 13.11 | 0.61 |
Hang Seng | 20,269.47 | 203.95 | 1.02 |
Jakarta Composite | 4,131.17 | 40.46 | 0.99 |
KLSE Composite | 1,642.52 | 6.60 | 0.40 |
Nikkei 225 | 8,978.60 | 97.44 | 1.10 |
Straits Times | - | - | - |
KOSPI Composite | 1,940.59 | 37.36 | 1.96 |
Taiwan Weighted | 7,433.70 | 113.90 | 1.56 |