Friday’s trading was mainly positive across Asia as investors weighed the impact of Japan’s inflation figures. In December, the annualized increase in the core consumer price index across the country was 4.0%, the highest level seen since records began in 1981.
The Nikkei 225 index was up 0.15% as of 9:32 AM (Thai time). The yield on the 10-year Japanese government bond increased to 0.41%, just below the central bank’s tolerance range’s upper ceiling.
The South Korean Kospi Index lost 0.18%. The S&P/ASX 200 in Australia recovered some of its earlier losses and settled up 0.09%.
The Hang Seng index in Hong Kong gained 0.80%. Mainland The benchmark Shanghai Composite index in China rose 0.48%.
Wall Street slumped overnight as investors fretted that the Federal Reserve will continue raising interest rates despite signs of easing inflation. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped for a third day in a row, wiping out its brief New Year’s rise.
