The stock indices of the Asia-Pacific region did not show clear dynamics on Thursday. Investors reacted to the speech of the Federal Reserve, Janet Yellen. The markets were also influenced by the expectation of Trump inauguration and New Year on the lunar calendar, celebrated in China and other Asian countries. According to MarketWatch, a stronger dollar and the volatility of oil prices also had a moderating influence on the Asia-Pacific stock markets.
The composite index of region MSCI Asia Pacific has not changed.
The Japanese Nikkei 225 indicators and Topix rose 0.9%, despite a sharp drop in value of Toshiba (T: 6502) Corp shares.
China's Shanghai Composite lost 0.4% and reached the lowest level since December 29, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng dropped 0.2%.
The Australian S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.2%, while South Korea's Kospi and Indonesian Jakarta Composite rose 0.1%.
The Bank Indonesia on Thursday left its benchmark interest rate at 4.75% in order to reduce the risk of capital outflows. The Indonesian Central Bank forecasts inflation in 2017 in the range of 3% to 5%.
China will celebrate the New Year according to the lunar calendar, from 27 January to 2 February inclusive.
Share prices of the Japanese company Toshiba Corp collapsed on Thursday by 16% after the news about a $ 4-billion-dollar loss of the division that specializes in equipment for nuclear power. The company applied for financial assistance at the Development Bank of Japan and also asked for support from other creditors.
The market value of automotive components manufacturer Takata has collapsed by 17.3% in the morning trades and its share trading was suspended.
The price of Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO) shares has increased by 1.3% on media reports that the company plans to offer bonds for 100 billion yen by the end of the fiscal year - on March 31.
Samsung Electronics stock price rose 1.5%. The Seoul Central District Court rejected on Thursday the prosecutor's office in the request for the arrest of the deputy chairman of the board and de facto head of Samsung Group, Lee Jae-yong.
The shares of the air company Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd., Asia's biggest company in terms of international air traffic, fell 3.9%. Investors didn’t find the upcoming Cathay restricting full enough and clear.
Oil fell 2.7% on Wednesday in London and New York, which led to a drop in value of the shares of the majority of oil and gas companies in Asia on Thursday, including Sinopec, which lost 1.8%, and Inpex, which fell 0.5%.