Asian markets settled mixed on Thursday ahead of the US Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge later in the day for cues on when Fed will cut interest rates. Chinese shares gained after China’s securities regulator said it would tighten scrutiny of derivative businesses in the stock market. While, market participants are awaiting Chinese authorities' next policy move as the National People's Congress begins its annual meeting on March 5. Japanese shares fell slightly, while the Japanese yen gained after a Bank of Japan official called for an overhaul of the central bank's ultra-loose monetary policy, including an exit from negative interest rates and bond yield control. Seoul shares declined modestly ahead of the Independence Movement Day holiday.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,015.17 | 57.32 | 1.90 |
Hang Seng | 16,511.44 | -25.41 | -0.15 |
Jakarta Composite | 7,316.11 | -12.53 | -0.17 |
KLSE Composite | 1,551.44 | 5.85 | 0.38 |
Nikkei 225 | 39,166.19 | -41.84 | -0.11 |
Straits Times | 3,141.85 | 2.92 | 0.09 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,642.36 | -9.93 | -0.38 |
Taiwan Weighted | 18,966.77 | 112.36 | 0.59 |
