Asia-Pacific Markets Mixed as Investors Weigh Japan nflation data, Trump Tariff Threats
Asia-Pacific markets trade mixed Friday as investors assessed inflation data from Japan, while the threat of U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs dents investor sentiment.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 slipped 0.43%, while the Topix declined 0.33%. Japan’s inflation rate in January climbed to 4%, hitting its highest level since January 2023. Core inflation — which excludes prices of fresh food — rose to 3.2%, beating Reuters’ expectations of 3.1%.
South Korea’s Kospi traded 0.42% lower while the small-cap Kosdaq added 0.43%.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index rose 2.25%, while the Hang Seng Tech index added 3.44%. Shares of Hong Kong listed Alibaba rose 11% following a significant profit increase for the company in the December quarter, driven by growth in its Cloud Intelligence division and e-commerce sector. Mainland China’s CSI 300 rose 0.4%.
Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 traded 0.59% higher.
Source : CNBC