Stock markets in the Asia-Pacific region closed Thursday trading without visible dynamics. Investors evaluated the comments of the Federal Reserve System (FRS) and waited for the outcome of the Bank of Japan meeting, reported Bloomberg.
The composite index of Asia-Pacific region MSCI Asia Pacific fell Thursday by less than 0.1%. During the trades, the indicator showed growth of 0.3% and a decline of 0.6%.
Japan's Nikkei 225 and the Topix declined by 0.7% and 0.6% on the news of the resignation of Economy Minister Akira Amari in connection with a corruption scandal.
Chinese Shanghai Composite Index lost 2.9%, while the Hang Seng gained 0.75%.
South Korea's Kospi index rose 0.5%, while the Australian S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.6%.
As expected, the Fed left the benchmark interest rate in the target range of 0.25% to 0.5%. However, the Central Bank gave a signal of slower rate hikes later than previously planned. In December, Fed officials saw an opportunity in the middle of four rate hikes in 2016, each time by 25 basis points.
The Fed noted the weakening of activity in the economy, despite the creation of new jobs, and expects to maintain low inflation.
In addition, on Thursday begins a two-day meeting of the Bank of Japan. Some analysts believe that the Central Bank may extend the measures to stimulate the economy.
Shares of Samsung Electronics fell 2.6% after the company reported smaller-than-expected earnings for the fourth quarter and warned of a difficult situation with the demand for smart phones.
Alps Electiric, Japanese electronics supplier for smartphones, has lost 17% of capitalization.
The market value of the airline China Southern Airlines fell 6.1% after analysts gave the forecast that the company is to receive a loss in the fourth quarter on depreciation of the Yuan.
Quotes of Alibaba Health Information Technology collapsed by 20%. The company failed to secure the approval of regulators for the acquisition of the business of online sales of drugs from the parent company Alibaba Group.
Meanwhile, the Japanese papers of Hitachi Chemical Co surged 13% after the company reported an increase in profits over the past three quarters more than doubled.