Stocks were mixed at the close in Asia on Thursday, with investors still struggling to decipher the likely impact of the ‘Omicron’ variant of Covid-19.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 was down 0.47% at 28,725.47, as the yen strengthened 0.13% on the dollar to last trade at JPY 113.52.
Technology giant SoftBank Group jumped 1.06%, while among the benchmark’s other major components, robotics specialist Fanuc was down 1.84% and Uniqlo owner Fast Retailing lost 0.17%.
The broader Topix index ended the session 0.57% weaker at 1,990.79.
On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite was ahead 0.98% at 3,673.04, and the smaller, technology-centric Shenzhen Composite advanced 0.87% to 2,543.16.
South Korea’s Kospi gained 0.93% to 3,029.57, while the Hang Seng Index in Hong Kong was 1.08% firmer at 24,254.86.
Trading in Macau-based casino operator Suncity Group and its subsidiary Summit Ascent Holdings were halted in the special administrative region over a pending announcement.
According to Reuters, the company was possibly defaulting on a loan, after its chief executive officer was arrested in late November over cross-border gambling allegations.
The blue-chip technology stocks were on the front foot in Seoul, with Samsung Electronics up 1.03% and SK Hynix rising 2.92%.
“While European stock markets took a step back yesterday, US stock markets still managed to rise,” said analysts at Rabobank of the mixed fortunes of markets in the last 24 hours.
“The Stoxx 50 lost 1.01%, but the S&P 500 gained 0.31%.
“Asia-Pacific stock markets are mixed this morning, and the 10-year US Treasury yield climbed to 1.54% yesterday, but is moving this morning around 1.50%.”
Oil prices were lower as the region went to bed, with Brent crude last down 0.57% at $75.39 per barrel, and West Texas Intermediate losing 0.36% to $72.10.
In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 lost 0.28% to 7,384.50, while across the Tasman Sea, New Zealand’s S&P/NZX 50 was 0.75% weaker at 12,771.83.
The down under dollars were both weaker against the greenback, with the Aussie last off 0.32% at AUD 1.3988, and the Kiwi retreating 0.12% to NZD 1.4703.
