Asia-Pacific Markets React to Japan's Latest Economic Indicators

Investors across the Asia-Pacific region faced a mixed bag of reactions on Friday, as they processed the latest economic data from Japan. The Statistics Bureau of Japan reported a steady unemployment rate of 2.4% for December, alongside a notable rise in Tokyo's annual inflation rate to 3.4%. Further insights came from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, revealing a 0.3% increase in industrial output, contrasted by a 0.7% decline in retail sales for the same period.

Stock Market Movements Across the Region

South Korea's Kospi experienced a downturn, dropping by 1.15% at 3:24 am CET, while Japan's Nikkei 225 remained flat at 3:25 am CET. In contrast, Australia's S&P/ASX 200 saw a modest gain of 0.39% at 3:26 am CET. Markets in Hong Kong and China remained closed for the holidays, offering a brief respite from the day's trading activities.

Currency Fluctuations

The dollar showed a slight decrease against the yen, trading 0.18% lower at 3:27 am CET, with the exchange rate settling at 153.98700.