Thursday 23rd January 2025: Asia-Pacific Markets Mixed as Investors Eye Economic Data 

Global Markets:

•  Asian Stock Markets : Nikkei up 0.95%, Shanghai Composite up 0.80%, Hang Seng down 0.30% ASX down 0.61%
• Commodities : Gold at $2759.35 (-0.26%), Silver at $31.15 (-0.8%), Brent Oil at $78.79 (-0.19%), WTI Oil at $75.24 (-0.23%)
• Rates : US 10-year yield at 4.609, UK 10-year yield at 4.6305, Germany 10-year yield at 2.4980

News & Data:

• (CAD) IPPI m/m  0.2% vs 0.5% expected
• (CAD) RMPI m/m  1.3% vs 0.4% expected

Markets Update:

Asia-Pacific markets traded mixed on Thursday as investors analyzed regional economic data, with Chinese stocks leading gains. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index rose 0.24%, while the CSI 300 climbed 1.01% after China’s financial regulators urged major state-owned mutual funds and insurers to increase stock purchases to support the struggling market. Meanwhile, Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 declined 0.72%.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 gained 0.84%, and the Topix added 0.6%. South Korea’s Kospi dropped 0.78%, while the Kosdaq fell 0.76%. The country’s economy expanded 1.2% year-on-year in Q4, marking its slowest growth since Q2 2023. Investors are also awaiting Singapore’s December inflation data and the outcome of the Bank of Japan’s policy meeting, where BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda has hinted at potential rate hikes.

U.S. markets saw gains overnight, with the S&P 500 reaching an intraday record of 6,100.81 before closing at 6,086.37, up 0.61%. The Nasdaq Composite surged 1.28% to 20,009.34, reflecting strong performance in technology stocks like Oracle and Nvidia amid AI optimism and President Donald Trump’s new term. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 130.92 points (0.3%) to 44,156.73, boosted by Procter & Gamble’s nearly 2% gain following strong earnings.

With key economic data releases and central bank decisions in focus, investors are closely monitoring market movements across the Asia-Pacific region and global financial markets. The interplay of economic policies, earnings reports, and investor sentiment will continue to drive volatility in the coming sessions.

Upcoming Events: 

• 01:30 PM GMT – CAD Core Retail Sales m/m
• 01:30 PM GMT – CAD Retail Sales m/m
• 01:30 PM GMT – USD Unemployment Claims
• 04:00 PM GMT – USD President Trump Speaks

The post Thursday 23rd January 2025: Asia-Pacific Markets Mixed as Investors Eye Economic Data  first appeared on IC Markets | Official Blog.