Stocks in Asia-Pacific struggled for direction on Thursday as investors reacted to minutes released overnight from the U.S. Federal Reserve’s November meeting.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 jumped another 240.45 points, or 0.9%, to 26,537.31.
The Japanese yen traded at 104.28 per U.S. dollar, having seen levels below 104 against the greenback early this week.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index climbed 149.7 points, or 0.6%, to 26,819.45.
JD Health, a unit of Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com, is looking to raise more than $3 billion in its Hong Kong debut.
JD Health is planning to sell 381.9 million shares at a range of 62.80 to 70.58 Hong Kong dollars ($8.10-$9.11 U.S.), according to a filing with the Hong Kong stock exchange. The exercise of an over-allotment option to sell more stock could also bring the size of the IPO up to about $4 billion.
JD Health looks set to be Hong Kong’s biggest IPO of 2020.
That development came after Ant Group’s highly-anticipated initial public offering in Shanghai and Hong Kong was abruptly suspended earlier in November. Shares of JD.com in Hong Kong gained 0.8% on Thursday.
The Bank of Korea on Thursday held steady on its key policy rate at a record low of 0.5%, in line with expectations of economists.
Following that announcement, the Korean won traded at 1,104.90 per dollar, as compared to an earlier low of 1,107.30 against the greenback.
The Australian dollar changed hands at $0.7362, above levels below $0.732 seen earlier in the week.
In other markets
In Shanghai, the CSI 300 nicked higher 8.89 points, or 0.2%, to 4,919.59.
In Korea, the Kospi index regained 24.37 points, or 0.9%, to 2,625.91.
In Taiwan, the Taiex Index popped 106.83 points, or 0.8%, to 13,845.66.
In Singapore, the Straits Times Index lost 12.07 points, or 0.4%, to 2,857.48.
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 stumbled 65.96 points, or 0.5%, to 12,602.02
In Australia, the ASX 200 retreated 46.95 points, or 0.7%, to 6,636.38.
