Stocks in Asia were mixed on Thursday as investors assessed the prospects of economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.
In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 gained 81.98 points, or 0.4%, to 22,695.74. The Japanese yen traded at 109.04 per U.S. dollar after weakening sharply earlier this week from levels below 108
The Hang Seng index in Hong Kong added another 40.68 points, or 0.2%, to 24,366.30
Australian shares gained as retail sales for April Down Under plunged a seasonally adjusted 17.7% in April, according to data released Thursday by the country’s Bureau of Statistics.
The Australian dollar changed hands at $0.6893, following its rise from levels below $0.68 seen earlier in the trading week.
In other markets
In Shanghai, the CSI 300 eked up 8.27 points to 3,983.65.
In Korea, the Kospi edged up 4.18 points, or 0.2%, to 2,151.18
In Taiwan, the Taiex index prospered 73.07 points, or 0.7%, to 11,393.23
In Singapore, the Straits Times Index inched up 6.81 points, or 0.3%, to 2,707.20.
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 popped 104.53 points, or 0.9%, to 11,222.80
In Australia, the ASX 200 picked up 50.22 points, or 0.9%, to 5,991.82.
