Equity indices in the Asia-Pacific region were mixed on Thursday, with South Korea’s Kospi Index (+3.6%) the winning standout once again, bolstered by its semiconductor components.
—Equity Markets—
Japan’s Nikkei: +1.2%
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng: -0.2%
China’s Shanghai Composite: -0.5%
India’s Sensex: +0.1%
South Korea’s Kospi: +3.6%
Australia’s All Ordinaries: -0.2%
Japan
July PPI 0.1% m/m (expected 0.6%; prior 0.5%) and 7.2% yr/yr (expected 7.4%; prior 7.3%)
Japan’s Nikkei (+1.2%) also had another winning session, aided by some market-friendly PPI data. Nevertheless, market pricing continues to suggest a BOJ rate hike could happen in either September or October.
China
The Q2 policy report from the PBOC, meanwhile, acknowledged continuing with a “moderately loose” monetary policy.
South Korea
Thursday’s gain left the Kospi up more than 20% from its closing low in July (a span of just 10 trading sessions).
India
July Trade Balance -INR31.98B (expected -INR30.20B; prior -INR30.43B)
New Zealand
Q3 Inflation Expectations 2.3% qtr/qtr (prior 2.5%)