Asian markets trade mostly higher in early deals on Thursday

21 Mar 2024 Evaluate
Asian markets traded mostly higher in early deals on Thursday, kindled by the risk appetite in the market after US Federal Reserve kept borrowing costs unchanged for the fifth straight meeting as expected and signalled expectations for three interest rate cuts this year. Weaker crude oil rates also buoyed equity investments. Market sentiments also got boosted after the PBoC retained its key lending rates at record lows, and Hong Kong Monetary Authority maintained its base rate at 5.75%. Meanwhile, China’s industrial output during January-February while fixed investment thrived. Japan’s Nikkei soared in tandem with the positive global indices overnight and on larger foreign investments with the sluggish local currency yen. Meantime, Japan’s trade deficit narrowed sharply in February amid robust export growth, while private sector activity remained expansionary in March, lifting investor sentiments. 

Nikkei 225 up by 797.04 points 1.99% to 40,800.64, Straits Times rose 33.52 points 1.05% to 3,211.00, Hang Seng widened by 289.42 points 1.72% to 16,832.49, KOSPI Index higher 63.08 points or 2.34% to 2,753.22, Taiwan Weighted lifted 376.14 points or 1.90% to 20,160.59, Jakarta Composite enlarged by 46.30 points or 0.63% to 7,377.43, and FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI buoyed by 3.75 points or 0.24% to 1,539.54.

On the flip side, Shanghai Composite decreased by 6.32 points or 0.21% to 3,073.37.
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