On Thursday morning (30 January, 9:29 AM, GMT+7, Bangkok time), major indices in Asia Pacific, including Japan’s NIKKEI and Australia’s ASX 200, increased, diverging from the downward trend on Wall Street following the Federal Reserve’s decision to maintain interest rates. A number of markets in the region remained closed in observance of the Lunar New Year holiday.
Data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed that, in 4Q24, Australia’s export price index rose by 3.6%. However, it experienced an 8.6% decline over the course of the year. The country’s import price index saw a 0.2% increase in the same quarter, but registered a 1.9% year-on-year drop.
In the U.S., the Federal Reserve opted to maintain its key interest rate at the range of 4.25% to 4.5%, marking a departure from the recent pattern of loosening monetary policy. This decision comes as the central bank assesses the potentially turbulent political and economic terrain lying ahead.
Japan’s NIKKEI added 0.2% to 39,494.13. and Australia’s ASX 200 surged by 0.61% to 8,498.6.
Meanwhile, the US stock markets edged down on Wednesday as the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) declined by 0.31% to 44,713.52. NASDAQ contracted by 0.51% to 19,632.32, and S&P 500 fell by 0.47% to 6,039.31. VIX rose by 0.91% to 16.56.
As for commodities, oil prices settled lower on Wednesday, with the U.S. benchmark reaching its lowest point so far this year, following a larger-than-anticipated increase in its domestic crude inventories. Brent futures dropped 91 cents or 1.2% to $76.58 a barrel, and the West Texas Intermediate (WTI) lost $1.15 or 1.6% to $72.62 per barrel.
This morning, Brent futures remained unchanged at $76.58 a barrel, while the WTI grew 8 cents or 0.11% to $72.7 per barrel.
Meanwhile, gold futures climbed 0.09% to $2,772.2 per Troy ounce.
