Economic Data and Trade Tariffs Influence Asia-Pacific Markets

On Thursday, the Asia-Pacific region witnessed a mostly upward trend in its markets. This movement came as investors closely analyzed the latest economic data and updates regarding the US imposition of trade tariffs.

South Korea and Australia Release Key Economic Data

From South Korea, data indicated a drop in the country's inflation rate to 2%. Meanwhile, the Australian Bureau of Statistics reported a significant trade surplus of 5.6 billion Australian dollars for January, offering a positive outlook on the country's economic health.

Market Movements Across the Region

By 7:16 am CET, Japan's Nikkei 225 had seen a growth of 0.88%. In contrast, Australia's S&P/ASX 200 ended its trading session with a 0.57% loss. South Korea's Kospi, however, advanced by 0.43% at 7:17 am CET.

In mainland China, the Shenzhen Composite improved by 1.76% at 7:02 am CET, while the Shanghai Composite gained 1.22% at 7:18 am CET. Hong Kong's Hang Seng also experienced a notable rise, increasing by 2.96%.

Currency Movements

At 7:19 am CET, the dollar showed a 0.23% increase against the Japanese yen, trading at ¥1.08174, indicating a slight shift in currency strength.