Asian equity markets presented a mixed performance today, influenced by overnight declines on Wall Street as investors await US jobs data, which could provide insights into the Federal Reserve’s upcoming policy decisions.
Highlights from major Asian markets:
- Shanghai Composite gained 1.05% to trade at 3,404.08.
- Hang Seng Index (HSI) advanced 1.57%, up by 307.51 points.
- Shenzhen Component Index climbed 1.48%, adding 156.85 points.
- Nikkei 225 in Japan declined by 0.77%, shedding 304.43 points to trade at 39,091.17.
- Kospi (South Korea) dropped 0.56% to 2,428.16.
- ASX 200 (Australia) fell 0.64%, losing 54 points.
The broader market sentiment was dampened by Wall Street’s negative close, where the S&P 500 fell 0.2% and the Nasdaq 100 slipped 0.3%, breaking a five-day rally.
On the currency front, the yen weakened slightly against the dollar despite Japan reporting a record rise in base salaries for regular workers. Meanwhile, US Treasury yields remained steady, with traders maintaining a cautious stance.
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