ICMarket

Monday 25th March 2024: Asian Markets Navigate Mixed Trends Amid Inflation Data Scrutiny



Global Markets:

  •  Asian Stock Markets : Nikkei down 1.10%, Shanghai Composite down 0.71%, Hang Seng down 0.15% ASX up 0.53%
  • Commodities : Gold at $2172.5 (0.46%), Silver at $24.87 (0.13%), Brent Oil at $85.23 (0.52%), WTI Oil at $81.05 (0.64%)
  • Rates : US 10-year yield at 4.21, UK 10-year yield at 3.9664, Germany 10-year yield at 2.322

News & Data:

  • (CAD) Core Retail Sales m/m 0.5% vs – 0.4% expected
  • (CAD) Retail Sales m/m -0.3% vs -0.4% expected

Markets Update:

Asia-Pacific markets showed a mixed trend on Monday, driven by investors keeping a close eye on inflation data across the region. Singapore and Malaysia reported higher-than-anticipated inflation figures, adding to market scrutiny. Eyes are now on Australia’s upcoming February consumer price index release on Wednesday, along with Tokyo’s inflation data on Friday, often seen as a precursor to nationwide trends in Japan.

Market specifics saw Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index slipping by 0.14%, while mainland China’s CSI 300 index remained relatively stable. Japan’s Nikkei 225 closed 1.16% lower, retracting from its recent all-time high, and the broader Topix index finished down 1.26%. South Korea’s Kospi index experienced a 0.4% decline, while Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 index rose by 0.53%, recovering from previous losses.

In the United States on Friday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average retreated by over 300 points, or 0.77%, following two consecutive sessions of record-setting highs. The S&P 500 index also saw a decrease of 0.14%. Conversely, the Nasdaq Composite continued its upward trajectory, adding 0.16% to finish at 16,428.82, marking another record high.

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