Asia-Pacific markets moved higher on Friday as investors awaited the outcome of the Bank of Japan’s policy meeting later in the session.
By 12:30 pm AEDT (1:30 am GMT), Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 was up 0.4%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 gained 0.8%. South Korea’s Kospi 200 added 0.3%.
In economic data, Japan’s consumer inflation rate eased to 2.9% in November but remained above the central bank’s 2% target for a 44th consecutive month, reinforcing expectations that the Bank of Japan is set to raise interest rates.
Core inflation, which excludes fresh food prices, was unchanged at 3% from October and matched economists’ expectations.
Overnight in the United States, major Wall Street benchmarks finished higher. The Dow Jones Industrial Average edged up 0.1%, the S&P 500 advanced 0.8%, and the Nasdaq Composite climbed 1.4%.
Commodity prices were mixed. Brent crude rose 0.2% to US$59.82 a barrel, while spot gold slipped 0.1% from near record highs to US$4,332.59 an ounce.
In China, markets were mixed on Thursday. The Shanghai Composite added 0.2% to 3,876.4, while the CSI 300 fell 0.6% to 4,579.9.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index edged 0.1% higher to 25,498.1, while India’s BSE Sensex finished 0.1% lower at 84,481.8.
European markets also closed mixed. London’s FTSE 100 rose 0.7% to extend multi-week highs at 9,837.8, Germany’s DAX gained 1% to 24,199.5, and France’s CAC 40 advanced 0.8% to 8,150.6.
