KURE - Asia-Pacific stocks mixed taking cues from a weak lead on Wall Street

2024-01-18 03:06:38 ET

Japan ( NKY:IND ) -0.03% . Japan's industrial output declines 0.9% in November; core machinery orders fall 4.9% .

Investors also digested data showing capital spending in Japan declined in November as firms continued to grapple with soft domestic consumption and weak external demand.

Markets now look ahead to domestic inflation data on Friday and the Bank of Japan policy decision next week.

China ( SHCOMP ) +0.43% .

Hong Kong ( HSI ) +0.74% .

India ( SENSEX ) -0.44% .

Australia ( AS51 ) -0.29% . Consumer inflation expectations in Australia stood at 4.5% in January 2024, unchanged from December which was the lowest level since January 2022 amid signs that tighter financial conditions have dampened upward price pressures.

Domestically, investors digested data showing Australia’s unemployment rate stood at 3.9% in December, holding steady for the second straight month and remaining at its highest level since May 2022.

In the U.S. on Wednesday, all three major indexes ended lower , after upbeat December US retail sales data eroded expectations of a rate cut by the Fed beginning as early as March

U.S. stock futures steadied on Thursday after the major averages posted losses in the previous session on adjusted rate expectations: Dow -0.06% ; S&P 500 -0.04% ; Nasdaq +0.07% .

Elsewhere, investors monitored geopolitical developments in the Middle East following reports of fresh US strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen.

Currencies: ( JPY:USD ), ( CNY:USD ), ( AUD:USD ), ( INR:USD ), ( HKD:USD ), ( NZD:USD ).

More on Asia

• Japan's industrial output declines 0.9% in November; core machinery orders fall 4.9%

• China Q4 GDP grows less than expected at 5.2% amid weak spending, property market decline

• China's December industrial output up 6.8% y/y, retail sales growth below forecast

• Japan's Nikkei rallies past 35,000 for the first time since bubble era

• Chinese authorities allow net selling of shares by mutual funds - report

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