Asian markets settle mostly down on Thursday

09 Jan 2025 Evaluate
Asian markets settled mostly down on Thursday tracking a mixed close on Wall Street overnight after the release of mixed US jobs data. The payroll processor ADP released a report showing private sector job growth slowed more than expected in December, while the Labour Department released a report showing weekly jobless claims unexpectedly fell to their lowest level in almost eleven months. The minutes from the Federal Reserve's December meeting revealed that officials expect slower rate cuts in 2025 and remain worried about the inflation impacts from President-elect Donald Trump's policies. Investors’ focus has now shifted to the US nonfarm payrolls report due on Friday that might provide greater clarity on the Federal Reserve's interest rate path for 2025. Chinese and Hong Kong shares declined on disappointing Chinese inflation data that pointed to persistent deflationary pressures in the world's second-largest economy. Data showed that Chinese consumer inflation remained near zero in December, while producer prices continued to slide despite recent stimulus measures. Japanese shares declined and the yen rose against the US dollar on increased speculation over an interest rate hike by the Bank of Japan after strong wage growth for November, while technology shares such as Advantest Corp and Tokyo Electron lost after reports suggested the Biden administration plans one additional round of restrictions on the export of artificial intelligence chips.

Asian Indices

Last Trade            

Change in Points

Change in %      

Shanghai Composite

3,211.39

-18.78

-0.58

Hang Seng

19,240.89

-38.95

-0.20

Jakarta Composite

7,064.59

-15.76

-0.22

KLSE Composite

1,600.81

-14.02

-0.87

Nikkei 225

39,605.09

-375.97

-0.95

Straits Times

3,862.60

-24.38

-0.63

KOSPI Composite

2,521.90

0.85

0.03

Taiwan Weighted

23,081.13

-326.20

-1.41


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