SINGAPORE – Asia-Pacific equities mixed on Thursday at trading levels as U.S. markets rose again to all-time highs. Meanwhile, South Korea’s central bank raised interest rates.
The Japanese Nikkei 225 rose 0.36%, while the Topix rose 0.14%.
In Australia, the S & P / ASX 200 fell 0.31%.
South Korea’s central bank raised interest rates, a decision expected by analysts. This made it the first developed economy to do so in the pandemic era.
The Bank of Korea raised its rate by 25 basis points to 0.75%.
“The virus situation in Korea has deteriorated since the July central bank meeting, when it gave strong signals that tension was imminent,” Capital Economics wrote in a note ahead of the announcement.
“However, the economy has become increasingly resilient to outbreaks as companies have learned to live with the virus,” he said, adding that rising household debt and rising household debt house prices increase the problems of financial stability.
Kospi, South Korea, fell 0.13% after the rate announcement.
US stocks rose again overnight. The Dow Jones industrial average rose 39.24 points, or 0.1%, to 35,405.50. The S&P 500 added 0.2% to a new closing high of 4,496.19. The Nasdaq Composite gained 0.1% to 15,041.86, also a new closing high.
Coins and oils
The U.S. dollar index, which tracks the greenback against a basket from its peers, fell to 92,819, below levels above 93 earlier this week.
The Japanese yen was trading at 110.01, weakening from the 109 level in recent days. The Australian dollar changed hands at $ 0.7277, a stronger touch than levels above $ 0.725 earlier this week.
Oil prices fell in the morning of Asian hours. International benchmark Brent crude futures fell 0.58% to $ 71.83 per barrel. US crude futures up 0.69% to $ 67.89.