Asian markets settle mixed on Wednesday

13 Mar 2024 Evaluate
Asian markets settled mixed on Wednesday as hotter than expected US inflation report diminished hopes for an early interest rate cut by the US Federal Reserve. Data showed that US CPI increased 0.4% for the month and 3.2% year-on-year in February, while the core CPI rose 0.4% on the month and was up 3.8% on the year. Chinese shares dropped due to lingering worries over the country's beleaguered property sector. Country Garden's onshore bondholders said they have not received a coupon payment due on Tuesday. The payment totalling 96 million yuan ($13 million) has a 30-day grace period. Japanese shares declined, while the yen strengthened amid more signs that the Bank of Japan will raise interest rates soon. Seoul shares gained tracking overnight Wall Street gains followed by megacap tech stocks. Meanwhile, South Korea’s unemployment rate in the country fell to 2.6% in February from 3% in the prior month.

Asian Indices

Last Trade            

Change in Points

Change in %      

Shanghai Composite

3,043.83

-12.11

-0.40

Hang Seng

17,082.11

-11.39

-0.07

Jakarta Composite

7,421.21

39.30

0.53

KLSE Composite

1,538.13

-16.43

-1.06

Nikkei 225

38,695.97

-101.54

-0.26

Straits Times

3,160.72

19.25

0.61

KOSPI Composite

2,693.57

11.76

0.44

Taiwan Weighted

19,928.51

13.96

0.07

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