Asian markets settled mostly lower on Thursday as Brent crude prices surging above $102 per barrel and climbing US Treasury yields fueled inflation concerns. Besides, investors awaited release of US inflation reports ahead of Federal Reserve’s policy decision next week. Further, escalating fighting between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis in Yemen kept market participants cautious. However, Japanese markets gained as the Bank of Japan prepares for a critical policy meeting next week, with board member Kazuyuki Masu indicating that the central bank will continue tightening policy and reduce monetary support as underlying inflation approaches its 2% target.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,934.40 | -17.10 | -0.43 |
Hang Seng | 24,954.47 | -320.49 | -1.27 |
Jakarta Composite | 6,589.34 | -88.86 | -1.35 |
KLSE Composite | 1,705.52 | -8.82 | -0.51 |
Nikkei 225 | 65,270.95 | 128.17 | 0.20 |
Straits Times | 5,689.75 | -39.88 | -0.70 |
KOSPI Composite | 7,033.92 | -17.72 | -0.25 |
Taiwan Weighted | 46,940.49 | -242.87 | -0.51 |
