Asian markets trade mostly higher in early deals on Friday

12 Jan 2024 Evaluate
Most of the Asian markets traded higher in early deals on Friday, kindled by risk appetite in the market with the advancing oil rates. Intensified hopes that China might curtail its key lending rates and trim the reserve requirement ratio again this year followed by sluggish economic data from China. Chinese exports rose by 2.3% yoy last month, up for the 2nd month; and imports rose less than expected after falling previously. Meanwhile, the hotter-than-expected US consumer inflation data dulled early Fed interest rate trim hopes. Japan’s Nikkei surged the most among Asian indices registering its 34-year high rate as local currency yen and continued dovish stance of Bank of Japan boosted investor confidence.

Nikkei 225 up by 424.50 points or 1.21% to 35,474.36, Hang Seng enlarged 5.06 points 0.03% to 16,307.10, Jakarta Composite rose by 0.77 points or 0.01% to 7,220.73, Shanghai Composite increased by 0.22 points or 0.01% to 2,886.87, and FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI added by 1.00 points or 0.07% to 1,484.00.

On the flip side, Straits Times down 16.84 points or 0.53% to 3,184.57, Taiwan Weighted dipped 22.77 points or 0.13% to 17,522.55, and KOSPI Index narrowed 19.34 points or 0.76% to 2,520.93.

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