(MENAFN– ecpulse)
While Chinese markets remain closed for the Lunar New Year holiday, the rest on Asia traded mixed on Wednesday. Japan and South Korea was led by the overnight gains on Wall Street triggered by some encouraging earnings.
- The MSCI Asia Pacific Index climbed 0.6% to 131 as of 17:17 in Tokyo
In Japan Nikkei index ended a week-long losing streak to close above the 14,000 mark as investors cheered data showing that wages in Japan rose for the second consecutive month in December although the stronger yen weighed on exporters.
- Nikkei 225 closed 1.23% higher at 14180.38
- Topix closed 2.05% higher at 1162.64
- Hong Kong’s Hang Seng closed 0.60% lower at 21269.38
In Australia stocks extended losses as traders grappled with the central bank’s decision to drop the easing bias and keep interest rates on hold at its first policy meeting of the year on Tuesday, while miners fell on weak factory data from US and China earlier this week.
- The S&P/ASX 200 closed 0.52% lower at 5070.31
- New Zealand’s NZX 50 closed 0.11% higher at 4807.94
In South Korea the benchmark index rebounded in a correctional move following the sharp selling seen the previous session; limiting gains however was Samsung which fell 1% on news the company will release the Galaxy S5 this month.
- Kospi closed 0.24% lower at 1891.32
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