Stocks in Asia Pacific fell on Thursday afternoon trade as China kept its benchmark lending rate on hold.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 lost 229.99 points, or 1%, to 22,880.62. The Japanese yen traded at 106.05 per U.S. dollar following a weakening yesterday from levels below 105.6 against the greenback
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng tumbled 387.52 points, or 1.5%, to 24,791.39.
South Korean stocks were among the biggest losers regionally. The moves came as local news agency Yonhap reported Thursday daily new coronavirus cases in the country rising by triple digits for the seventh straight day.
The Australian dollar changed hands at $0.717 after dropping from above $0.725 yesterday.
CHINA
The CSI 300 withered 61.52 points, or 1.3%, to 4,679.16.
China on Thursday announced no changes to its benchmark lending rate, with the one-year loan prime rate (LPR) kept at 3.85%, while the five-year LPR was on hold at 4.65%. That was in line with expectations from the majority of the participants in a survey who predicted no change to either rate.
In other markets
In Singapore, the Straits Times Index subtracted 33.12 points, or 1.3%, to 2.527.92.
In Korea, the Kospi slumped 86.32 points, or 3.7%, to 2,274.22
In Taiwan, the Taiex index stumbled 416 points, or 3.3%, to 12,362.64
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 staggered 89.13 points, or 0.8%, to 11,662.16
In Australia, the ASX 200 fell 44.62 points, or 0.8%, to 6,120.02.
