Asian shares are mixed in holiday-thinned trading with Wall Street closed for Thanksgiving
Japan's Nikkei 225 was unchanged at 50,172.60, with AI-linked stocks including Kioxia Holdings, Fujikura and Lasertec among the decliners
Representative Image (AP)
MANILA: Asian shares were mixed Friday in holiday-thinned trading as tech stocks slipped as a recent rebound driven by hopes for an interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve lost steam.
While developments related to artificial intelligence have been driving recent ups and downs in world markets, the focus remains on the outlook for US monetary policy. Recent comments by Fed officials have helped revive hopes the central bank will act during its meeting next month.
“Everyone is sprinting toward the same conclusion: the Fed will deliver holiday cheer,” Stephen Innes of SPI Asset Management said in a commentary.
Japan's Nikkei 225 was unchanged at 50,172.60, with AI-linked stocks including Kioxia Holdings, Fujikura and Lasertec among the decliners.
Government data showed Tokyo's year-on-year core inflation in November remained at 2.8 per cent, unchanged from October and above the Bank of Japan's 2 per cent target. That reinforces expectations of a gradual shift by the central bank to higher interest rates, although a rate hike is not expected at the Bank of Japan's December meeting.
South Korea's Kospi dropped 1.4 per cent to 3,930.95. Data showed the country's industrial production fell 4 per cent month-on-month in October, more than the 1.1 per cent decline in September. Semiconductor production plunged 26.5 per cent month-on-month, pushing down tech stocks like LG Energy Solutions, SK Hynix, and Samsung Electronics.
In Chinese markets, Hong Kong's Hang Seng index lost 0.2 per cent to 25,896.33. The Shanghai Composite index edged up 0.2 per cent to 3,883.46.
Australia's S&P/ASX 200 index fell 0.1 per cent to 8,608.90, while Taiwan's Taiex rose 0.9 per cent. India's BSE Sensex was up 0.1 per cent.
Shares in Europe advanced Thursday ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday.
On Wednesday, before the trading holiday in the US, stocks closed broadly higher on Wall Street. The S&P 500 is gaining 0.7 per cent, and the Dow is up 0.7 per cent. The Nasdaq composite added 0.8 per cent.
US benchmark crude oil added 43 cents to USD 59.08 per barrel.
Early Friday, Brent crude, the international standard, rose 21 cents to USD 63.08 per barrel.
The US dollar rose to 156.34 Japanese yen from 156.31 yen. The euro fell to USD 1.1584 from USD 1.1596.
