Asia-Pacific Markets Mostly Higher as Investors Parse Japan and Thailand GDP Growth Data
Asia-Pacific markets traded mostly higher Monday, as investors parsed Japan’s fourth-quarter economic growth data, while awaiting a slew of central bank decisions from the region this week.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 traded around the flatline, while the Topix added 0.29%. South Korea’s Kospi added 0.18% andthe small-cap Kosdaq added 1.2%.
Japan’s economic expansion in the fourth quarter beat analysts’ expectations for quarter-on-quarter and annualized growth, preliminary government data showed Monday. On an annualized basis, GDP grew 2.8%, exceeding the Reuters estimates of 1%.
The Japanese yen strengthened to trade at 151.95 against the greenback.
Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 slipped 0.64%.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index rose 0.23%. The Hang Seng Tech Index, which tracks the 30 biggest technology firms listed in Hong Kong, rose 0.35%. Mainland China’s CSI 300 traded flat.
Source : CNBC