On Friday morning (22 November, 9:28 AM, GMT+7, Bangkok time), major indices in Asia Pacific traded mixed, with investors evaluating Japan’s inflation data in October.
The core inflation rate, which excludes the volatile fresh food prices, grew by 2.3% compared to the same period last year, slightly surpassing the projected 2.2% as indicated by analysts surveyed by Reuters. This rate is lower than the 2.4% reported in the prior month.
On the other hand, Singapore’s Ministry of Trade and Industry revealed that the country’s GDP in the third quarter saw a notable 5.4% increase compared to the same period last year, significantly surpassing the revised 3.0% growth in the previous quarter. Quarter-on-quarter, the economy expanded by 3.2%, a stark improvement from the 0.5% growth in the second quarter.
In addition, the Ministry revised its forecast for this year’s economic growth, adjusting it upward to around 3.5% from the previous range of 2.0 to 3.0%.
Japan’s NIKKEI rose by 0.89% to 38,365.07. South Korea’s KOSPI grew by 1.14% to 2,509, and Australia’s ASX 200 added by 0.96% to 8,403.2.
As for stocks in China, Shanghai’s SSEC declined by 0.57% to 3,351.08. Hong Kong’s HSI slid by 0.18% to 19,564.96, and Shenzhen’s SZI dropped by 0.5% to 10,766.32.
Meanwhile, the US stock markets edged up on Thursday as the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) jumped by 1.06% to 43,870.35. NASDAQ climbed by 0.03% to 18,972.42, and S&P 500 expanded by 0.53% to 5,948.71. VIX slumped by 1.69% to 16.87.
As for commodities, oil prices settled higher on Thursday amidst escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine, with both nations firing missiles at each other. The heightened conflict raised concerns in the market about potential disruptions to crude supply if the situation further deteriorates. Brent futures surged $1.42 or 1.95% to $74.23 a barrel, and the West Texas Intermediate (WTI) gained $1.35 or 2% to $70.10 per barrel.
This morning, Brent futures escalated 31 cents or 0.42% to $74.54 a barrel, and the WTI increased 35 cents or 0.5% to $70.45 per barrel.
Meanwhile, gold futures climbed 0.27% to $2,682.1 per Troy ounce.
