Asian markets ended mixed on Thursday due to worries over impact of record-high US inflation. Data showed that US monthly producer prices increased by the most in more than 12 years in March. Seoul shares finished almost flat as the Bank of Korea unexpectedly raised its policy rate to the highest since August 2019 in order to cool off surging inflation. Chinese shares gained after China's cabinet said Beijing would use timely cuts in banks' Reserve Requirement Ratios (RRR) and interest rates to counter the impact of Covid-19 and boost the recovery and growth of consumption. The Nikkei closed above the psychological 27,000 level for the first time since April 6.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,225.64 | 38.82 | 1.22 |
Hang Seng | 21,518.08 | 143.71 | 0.67 |
Jakarta Composite | 7,235.53 | -27.25 | -0.38 |
KLSE Composite | 1,595.70 | 1.48 | -0.09 |
Nikkei 225 | 27,172.00 | 328.51 | 1.22 |
Straits Times | 3,335.85 | -6.37 | -0.19 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,716.71 | 0.22 | 0.01 |
Taiwan Weighted | 17,245.65 | -56.00 | -0.32 |
