Asian-Pacific markets traded mixed on Friday as investors awaited a key speech from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell at the central bank’s annual Jackson Hole symposium, where he is expected to provide guidance on the path of United States interest rates.
By 11:15 am AEST (1:15 am GMT), Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 slipped 0.3%, retreating from record highs reached in the prior session. Japan’s Nikkei 225 was little changed, adding 0.04%, while South Korea’s Kospi 200 advanced 1.1%.
Fresh inflation data out of Japan showed headline consumer prices slowing to 3.1% in July from 3.3% in June.
Core inflation also eased to 3.1% from 3.3%, slightly above expectations of 3%, while “core-core” inflation, which excludes fresh food and energy, held steady at 3.4%.
On Wall Street overnight, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.3%, the S&P 500 lost 0.4%, and the Nasdaq Composite shed 0.3%.
In commodities, Brent crude rose 1.2% to US$67.67 a barrel, marking multi-week highs, while spot gold slipped 0.3% to $3,338.71 per ounce.
Chinese markets extended gains, with the Shanghai Composite up 0.1% at 3,771.1, its strongest close since August 2015, and the CSI 300 climbing 0.4% to 4,288.1.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index eased 0.2% to 25,104.6, while India’s BSE Sensex advanced 0.2% to 82,000.7, also hitting multiweek highs.
European equities were similarly mixed. London’s FTSE 100 edged 0.2% higher to a fresh record of 9,309.2, Germany’s DAX gained 0.1% to 24,293.3, while France’s CAC 40 slipped 0.4% to 7,938.3.
