Asia-Pacific markets traded mixed Friday as U.S. stock futures stayed flat over Thanksgiving Day, leaving the NASDAQ Composite on track to end a seven-month winning streak.
The Nikkei 225 gained another 86.81 points, or 0.2%, to 50,243.91
Traders in Asia will parse fresh economic data, including Tokyo’s inflation print, a leading indicator of Japan’s broader price trends.
Headline inflation in Japan’s capital eased to 2.7% in October from 2.8% the month before. Core inflation, which strips out prices of fresh food but includes energy prices, came in at 2.8%, slightly higher than the 2.7% expected by economists polled by Reuters. This was above the central bank’s 2% target, boosting the case for a near-term rate hike.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng lost 87.04 points, or 0.3%, to 25,858.89.
Shares of property developer China Vanke gained 1.12% in Hong Kong after falling to an all-time low.
Enchem, a battery materials maker listed on the KOSDAQ, surged by over 16% after South Korean media reported it had won an order from Chinese battery maker Contemporary Amperex Technology Limited, or CATL.
LG Energy Solution slipped over 6.8%, making it the largest loser on the Kospi after parent LG Chem said it would pare its stake to about 70% from its current level of almost 80%, in order to improve shareholder returns.
In other markets
The CSI 300 in Shanghai recovered 11.26 points, or 0.3%, to 4,526.60.
In Korea, the Kospi retreated 60.32 points, or 1.5%, to 3,926.59
In Singapore, the Straits Times Index tacked on 14.62 points, or 0.3%, to 4,523.96.
In Taiwan, the Taiex climbed 71.95 points, or 0.3%, to 27,626.48.
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 regained 56.95 points, or 0.4%, to 13,489.15.
In Australia, the ASX 200 lost 3.22 points to 8,614.07.
