Shares in Asia-Pacific rose on Wednesday as investors continued monitoring the intensifying crisis surrounding Ukraine.
Markets in Japan were shuttered for holiday.
Meantime, the Japanese yen traded at 115 per U.S. dollar, weaker than levels below 114.8 seen against the greenback yesterday.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index regrouped 140.28 points, or 0.6%, to 23,660.28
U.S. President Joe Biden said Tuesday Russia has begun “an invasion” of Ukraine and announced sanctions against Russian banks and the country’s sovereign debt, among others. Biden’s announcement came following the Russian parliament’s approval of President Vladimir Putin’s Tuesday request to use military force outside the country’s borders.
The New Zealand dollar rose 0.55% on Wednesday to $0.6768 after the country’s central bank raised the official cash rate to 1% and said
more monetary tightening was needed” than previously signaled.
The Australian dollar was at $0.7234 after climbing from below $0.72 yesterday.
In other markets
In Shanghai, the CSI 300 regained 48.9 points, or 1.1%, to 4,623.05.
In Singapore, the Straits Times index fell 7.58 points, or 0.2%, to 3,393.
In Korea, the Kospi index gained 12.74 points, or 0.5% to 2,791.53
In Taiwan, the Taiex climbed out of its funk, gaining 86.44 points, or 0.5%, to 18,055.73
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 recovered 19.79 points, or 0.2%, to 12,134.42.
In Australia, the ASX 200 restocked 44.41 points, or 0.6%, to 7,205.69.
