Asia Pacific markets started the trading week with gains despite China reporting that its economy grew at the lowest official pace in 28 years.
The Nikkei 225 gained 53.26 points, or 0.3%, to 20,719.33. Shares of automaker Nissan advanced 0.4% after details of former CEO Carlos Ghosn’s renewed bail request emerged.
The Japanese yen, widely seen as a safe-haven currency, traded at 109.60 U.S. after seeing an earlier low of 109.76.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index took on 105.73 points, or 0.4%, to 27,196.54
Australian oil stocks mostly rose as the energy sub-index advanced 0.5%. The Australian dollar was at $0.7166 U.S. after touching an earlier high of $0.7185.
CHINA
In Shanghai, the CSI 300 picked up 17.47 points, or 0.6%, to 3,185.64
The world’s second-largest economy grew 6.6% in 2018, which matched analysts’ expectations, and was lower than a revised 6.8% growth in 2017. Fourth-quarter gross domestic product growth was 6.4%, which was also in line with expectations.
While Beijing’s official GDP figures are seen as one of the crucial indicators of China’s economic health, many outside experts have expressed skepticism about the veracity of the numbers.
In other markets
In Singapore, the Straits Times Index subtracted 3.78 points, or 0.1%, to 3,220.56
In Korea, the Kospi index inched ahead 0.33 points to 2,124.61
In Taiwan, the Taiex index advanced 53.34 points, or 0.5%, to 9,889.40
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 moved higher 50.86 points, or 0.6%, to 9,148.57
In Australia, the ASX 200 eked up 10.79 points, or 0.2%, to 5,890.38
