Mixed Markets Thursday - InvestingChannel

Mixed Markets Thursday

Stocks in Asia Pacific were mixed on Thursday as global markets continue their rocky start to the second quarter.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 index doffed 246.69 or 1.4%, to 17,818.72, as shares of index heavyweight Fast Retailing slipped 2.4%

The Japanese yen traded at 107.26 per U.S. dollar following lows above 108 seen earlier in the week.

In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index recovered 194.27 points, or 0.8%, to 23,280.06, though shares of HSBC were down 2.3%.

Australian markets fell, as the heavily-weighted financial sub-index dropped 4.2%, as shares of the country’s major banks such as Commonwealth Bank of Australia and Westpac sold off.

The Australian dollar changed hands at $0.6096 after slipping from levels above $0.612 yesterday.

Concerns over the economic impact of the global coronavirus pandemic, which has roiled markets in recent weeks, continue to weigh on investor sentiment.

The rapid spread of the disease across the world has resulted in drastic measures by authorities such as widespread lockdowns that have left economies effectively frozen in many places globally.

So far, more than 932,000 people have been infected worldwide while at least 42,000 lives have been taken by the virus, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

In other markets

Markets in Taiwan were shuttered Thursday for holiday.

The CSI 300 regained 59.45 points, or 1.6%, to 3,734.53.

In Korea, the Kospi index restocked 39.4 points, or 2.3%, to 1,724.86

In Singapore, the Straits Times Index picked up 12.76 points, or 0.5%, to 2,453.03.

In New Zealand, the NZX 50 docked 55.52 points, or 0.6%, to 9,870.56

In Australia, the ASX 200 slumped 104.33 points, or 2%, to 5,154.30