Most of the Asian equity indices are trading lower in early deals on Thursday, with investors treading cautiously and pressing some sales amid uncertainty about the near-term global economic outlook. Japanese market is trading weak, with a stronger yen prompting investors to go for some selling. In economic report, an index measuring domestic corporate goods prices in Japan was up 0.1 percent in January. That was in line with forecasts following the 0.3 percent increase in December. On a yearly basis, the CGPI was up 2.4 percent, down from 2.5 percent in the previous month.
Hang Seng dropped 57.35 points or 0.26% to 22,228.44, Jakarta Composite lost 2.32 points or 0.05% to 4,493.96, KLSE Composite dropped 5.21 points or 0.29% to 1,820.43, Nikkei 225 declined by 184.77 points or 1.25% to 14,615.29, Seoul Composite shed 1.51 points or 0.08% to 1,934.33 and Taiwan Weighted was down by 18.78 points or 0.22% to 8,492.09.
On the flip side, Shanghai Composite was up marginally by 1.63 points or 0.08% to 2,111.59 and Straits Times was up by 9.45 points or 0.31% to 3,044.90.