Stocks in Asia Pacific were little changed on Thursday as a data release showed China’s exports for April exceeding expectations, though a private survey showed the country’s services sector slumping in the same month.
Markets in Tokyo returned from holiday, with the Nikkei 225 gaining 55.42 points, or 0.3%, to 19,674.77, as shares of Tokyo Electron jumped 3.2%
The Japanese yen traded at 106.22 per U.S. dollar after strengthening from levels above 106.5 seen earlier this week.
The Hang Seng index in Hong Kong dumped 156.85 points, or 0.7%, to 23,980.63.
Australian markets slipped. The Australian dollar changed hands at $0.6438 after seeing an earlier low of $0.6375.
CHINA
In Shanghai, the CSI 300 fell 11.36 points, or 0.3%, to 3,924.89.
On the economic data front, China reported Thursday that its dollar-denominated exports rose but imports fell in April as movement restrictions to curb the coronavirus outbreak were eased.
Data from the General Administration of Customs released on Thursday showed exports rose 3.5% from a year ago while imports fell 14.2% in the same period. Economists had expected exports to have fallen 15.7% in April from a year earlier while imports were expected to have fallen 11.2% from a year earlier.
Meanwhile, China’s Caixin/Markit services Purchasing Managers’ Index for April showed that the country’s services sector slumped for the third straight month, as layoffs hit a record. It came in at 44.4, an improvement from the 43 reading in March — but still off the 50-level that separates growth from contraction.
In other markets
Markets in Singapore were closed for holidays.
In Korea, the Kospi docked 0.15 points to 1,928.61
In Taiwan, the Taiex index added 67.94 points, or 0.6%, to 10,842.92.
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 jumped 76.39 points, or 0.7%, to 10,649.23.
In Australia, the ASX 200 lost 20.4 points, or 0.4%, to 5,364.20.