Shares in Asia-Pacific were mixed on Thursday as U.S. stocks bounced back overnight. Oil prices, meanwhile, continued to move higher following a price surge in recent days.
The Nikkei 225 index leaped 182.24 points, or 0.7%, to 26,577.29.
The Japanese yen traded at 115.68 per dollar, having weakened yesterday from below 115.2 against the greenback
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index gained 123.42 points, or 0.6%, to 22,467.34.
In the afternoon of Asia trading hours, international benchmark Brent crude futures surged 3.6% to $116.99 U.S. per barrel, after earlier trading as high as $118.22 per barrel. U.S. crude futures also climbed 3.68% to $114.67 per barrel.
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies decided Wednesday to hold production steady despite the recent dramatic spike in oil prices.
The Australian dollar changed hands at $0.7321, largely holding on to gains from its climb below $0.72 earlier in the week.
CHINA
In Shanghai, the CSI 300 index faded 26.97 points, or 0.6%, to 4,551.63.
A private survey released Thursday showed slowing Chinese services activity growth in February, with the Caixin/Markit services Purchasing Managers’ Index coming in at 50.2 for that month. That compared against January’s reading of 51.4.
The 50-point mark in PMI readings separates growth from contraction. PMI readings are sequential and represent month-on-month expansion or contraction.
In other markets,
In Singapore, the Straits Times index inched ahead 9.25 points, or 0.3%, to 3,252.65.
In Korea., the Kospi index acquired 43.56 points, or 1.6%, to 2,747.08.
In Taiwan, the Taiex Index jumped 66.8 points, or 0.4%, to 17,934.40
|In New Zealand, the NZX 50 jumped 122.65 points, or 1%, to 12,211.40.
In Australia, the ASX 200 picked up 34.75 points, 0.5%, to 7,151.40.