Asia report: Markets finish higher as sentiment improves
Hang Seng
17,651.15
10:20 26/04/24
Markets in Asia finished mostly higher on Thursday, led by Japanese markets, after a solid session on Wall Street overnight was boosted by technology stocks.
AUD/USD
$0.6533
13:02 26/04/24
GBP/NZD
NZD2.1043
13:02 26/04/24
Nikkei 225
37,934.76
09:44 26/04/24
USD/JPY
¥156.8310
13:02 26/04/24
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 was up 0.87% at 22,823.26, as the yen strengthened 0.17% against the dollar to last trade at JPY 109.99.
Banks and other financial plays were joined by carmakers at the winning end of the index in Tokyo.
On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite slipped 0.25 to 3,108.98, and the smaller, technology-heavy Shenzhen Composite slid 0.63% to 1,767.96.
South Korea’s Kospi was ahead 0.69% at 2,470.58, while the Hang Seng Index in Hong Kong added 0.81% to 31,512.63.
Banks were a feature of the session in Seoul, as were steel producers, with Posco rising 4.4%, although technology stocks lagged.
Samsung Electronics was down 1.36%.
Investors turned their attention to Europe early in the session, digesting the news that the European Central Bank could end its asset purchasing programme, according to comments from its chief economist Peter Praet.
Praet said on Wednesday that strength in the eurozone economy was creating confidence that inflation would move towards the central bank’s target.
He said the organisation would move to decide how it would wind down its €30bn monthly asset purchase programme next week.
Oil prices were higher, with Brent crude last up 1.04% at $76.15 per barrel and West Texas Intermediate adding 0.89% to $65.31.
In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.53% to settle at 6,057.30, with major miners extending gains seen on Wednesday, while gold producers and utility plays were in the red.
BHP and Rio Tinto were up 2.07% and 2.33% in Sydney trading respectively.
Across the Tasman Sea, New Zealand’s S&P/NZX 50 surged 1% to a fresh record high of 8,899/52, led higher once again by specialist dairy products exporter A2 Milk, which added 4.4%.
It was a mixed day for the down under dollars against the greenback, with the Aussie last off 0.22% at AUD 1.3071, while the Kiwi strengthened 0.27% to NZD 1.4179.