Asian markets trade mostly higher in early deals on Thursday

01 Feb 2024 Evaluate
Asian markets traded mostly higher in early deals on Thursday, kindled by the risk appetite in the market after Federal Reserve beaten back bets of March interest rate cuts. The US central bank left the benchmark interest rates unchanged at 5.25% - 5.50% for the fourth straight meeting. Moreover, bargain hunting after recent sell offs also supported the indices. Hang Seng indicated economic growth of 4.3% yoy in Q4 of 2023 and on optimism after Hong Kong Monetary Authority maintained its base rate steady at 5.75% in the first monetary policy decision of 2024. Better than expected Chinese factory activity data also boosted investor confidence. Bucking the trend Japan’s Nikkei narrowed in the session despite firm corporate earnings reports and a weaker local currency yen. Malaysia is closed for Federal Territory Day holiday.

Hang Seng up 209.49 points 1.33% to 15,694.56, KOSPI Index rose 33.89 points or 1.36% to 2,530.98, Taiwan Weighted lifted 1.03 points or 0.01% to 17,890.59, Shanghai Composite buoyed by 5.48 points or 0.20% to 2,794.03 and Jakarta Composite enlarged by 19.12 points or 0.27% to 7,227.06.

On the flip side, Nikkei 225 down by 332.92 points or 0.92% to 35,953.79, and Straits Times fell 8.01 points 0.25% to 3,145.00.

© 2026 The Alchemists Ark Pvt. Ltd. All rights reserved. MoneyWorks4Me ® is a registered trademark of The Alchemists Ark Pvt. Ltd.

×