Shares in Asia-Pacific were higher on Thursday as the second quarter kicked off with several economic data releases out across the region.
The Nikkei 225 regained 210.07 points, or 0.7%, Thursday to 29,388.87.
A slew of economic data releases were out on Thursday. The headline large manufacturers index in the Bank of Japan’s quarterly tankan business sentiment survey came in at 5, against expectations of a 0 reading in an economist poll.
The Japanese yen traded at 110.68 per U.S. dollar, still weaker than levels below 109.6 seen earlier this week.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng hiked 560.39 points, or 2%, to 28,938.74, to lead the region. Scores of firms in Hong Kong were suspended from trading on Thursday, as multiple companies cited a delay in the publication of their annual results as a reason behind the halt.
In corporate news, shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company jumped 2.56% on Thursday. The firm announced Thursday plans to invest $100 billion over the next three years to increase capacity at its plants.
Australia’s retail sales declined 0.8% in February on a month-on-month, seasonally adjusted basis. That compared against expectations for a 1.1% decline.
The country also posted a trade surplus of 7.529 billion Australian dollars (about $5.71 billion) for February, as compared with expectations for a trade surplus of 9.7 billion Australian dollars.
The Australian dollar changed hands at $0.7567, having slipped from above $0.765 earlier in the week.
CHINA
In China, the CSI 300 recovered 56.91 points, or 2.1%, to 5,048.36.
A private survey released Thursday showed slowing growth of Chinese factory activity in March. The Caixin/Markit manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) for March came in at 50.6, compared to February’s reading of 50.9.
PMI readings above 50 signify expansion while those below that level represent contraction. PMI readings are sequential and represent month-on-month expansion or contraction.
In comparison, China’s official manufacturing PMI released Wednesday came in at 51.9, higher than February’s reading of 50.6.
The official PMI survey typically focuses a large proportion of big businesses and state-owned companies, while the private Caixin/Markit survey polls a bigger mix of small- and medium-sized firms.
In other markets
In Taiwan, the Taiex took on 140.15 points, or 0.9%, to 16,571.28.
In Korea, the Kospi index rebounded 25.98 points, or 0.9%, to 3,087.40.
In Singapore, the Straits Times index gained 16.34 points, or 0.5%, to 3,181.68.
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 slid 72.39 points, or 0.6%, to 12,488.31.
In Australia, the ASX 200 added 38.03 points, or 0.6%, to 6,828.69.
