SINGAPORE — Stocks in Asia-Pacific were mostly higher in Wednesday morning trade, with multiple markets in Southeast Asia closed for a holiday.
The Nikkei 225 in Japan rose 0.34% while the Topix index gained 0.11%. South Korea’s Kospi advanced 0.21%.
Mainland Chinese stocks were mixed, with the Shanghai composite up 0.24% while the Shenzhen component dipped 0.199%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index rose 0.81%.
The S&P/ASX 200 in Australia edged 0.23% higher.
MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan traded 0.35% higher.
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand is set to announce its interest rate decision at 10:00 a.m. HK/SIN. Ahead of that announcement, the New Zealand dollar traded at $0.7228, following its rise earlier this week from below $0.72.
In Southeast Asia, markets in Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand are closed for a holiday on Wednesday.
Overnight stateside, the S&P 500 shed 0.21% to 4,188.13 while the Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 81.52 points to 34,312.46. The Nasdaq Composite closed fractionally lower at 13,657.17.
Currencies and oil
The U.S. dollar index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of its peers, was at 89.693 — weaker as compared to levels above 89.7 seen recently.
The Japanese yen traded at 108.73 per dollar after touching levels around 108.6 against the greenback yesterday. The Australian dollar changed hands at $0.7754, stronger than levels below $0.772 seen earlier in the week.
Oil prices were little changed in the morning of Asia trading hours, with international benchmark Brent crude futures fractionally higher at $68.69 per barrel. U.S. crude futures sat below the flatline, trading at $66.06 per barrel.
Here’s a look at what’s on tap:
- New Zealand: Reserve Bank of New Zealand interest rate decision at 10:00 a.m. HK/SIN
Source: CNBC