Asia-Pacific markets trade mixed after key Wall Street benchmarks fall on economic concerns
Asia-Pacific markets traded mixed Wednesday, tracking declines in two key Wall Street benchmarks overnight after the U.S. consumer confidence survey came in much weaker than economists’ estimates.
Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 and Topix were in negative territory for the second consecutive day. The Nikkei 225 started the day 0.56% lower, while the broader Topix index fell 0.44%.
In South Korea, the Kospi began the day 0.12% higher, while the small-cap Kosdaq advanced 0.25%.
Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.47%, extending its losses to a second straight day.
The country is set to release its inflation data for January later in the day. A Reuters poll expects its weighted consumer price index to rise 2.5% year on year, same as the month before.
Futures for Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index stood at 23,148, pointing to a higher open compared to HSI’s close of 23,034.02.
Hong Kong’s annual budget will be tabled later in the day.
Source: CNBC
