Stocks in Asia Pacific were mixed on Thursday as investors continued to weigh the implications of a recent uptick in coronavirus cases.
In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 fell 100.3 points, or 0.5%, to 22,355.46. The Japanese yen traded at 106.96 per U.S. dollar, stronger than levels above 107.2 seen yesterday.
The Hang Seng index in Hong Kong subtracted 16.47 points, or 0.1%, to 24,464.94. Shares of Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com jumped in their Thursday Hong Kong debut, rising more than 3% as compared to the issue price.
Australian stocks stumbled as the country’s unemployment in May rose to 7.1% from a revised 6.4% in April, according to a Thursday release by the country’s Bureau of Statistics. That was the highest since October 2001.
The Australian dollar changed hands at $0.6871, off highs above $0.693 seen earlier this week.
CHINA
In Shanghai, the CSI 300 gained 26.79 points, or 0.7%, to 4,044.38.
In China, a recent jump in infections in Beijing led the city to cancel flights, close schools as well as block off some neighbourhoods.
One official said authorities in the country are "taking aggressive action" though the approach toward containing the virus’ spread has been "more targeted" as compared to lockdown measures that were imposed in Wuhan — where the disease was first reported — earlier this year.
In other markets
In Korea, the Kospi inched back 7.57 points, or 0.4%, to 2,133.48
In Taiwan, the Taiex index gained 13.74 points, or 0.1%, to 11,548.33
In Singapore, the Straits Times Index lost 3.96 points, or 0.2%, to 2,665.66.
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 tumbled 109.03 points, or 1%, to 11,225.28
In Australia, the ASX 200 let go of 55.3 points, or 0.9%, to 5,936.47.
