Asia-Pacific shares were mixed on Thursday as China saw softening in its inflation print in February. The economy’s consumer price index grew 1% year on year, the slowest pace since February 2022.
The Nikkei 225 in Japan gained 178.96 points, or 0.6%, to 28,623.15, as the Bank of Japan kicked off its two-day monetary policy meeting.
Governor Haruhiko Kuroda will conclude his final meeting on Friday, and investors are closely watching for any changes that could take markets by surprise. Economists polled by Reuters are widely expecting to see no changes in its ultra-dovish monetary policy.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index lost 125.51 points, or 0.6%, to 19.925.74.
CHINA
In China, the CSI 300 dropped 14.26 points, or 0.4%, to 4,019.85.
China’s consumer price index fell below expectations in February, but this cannot be seen as support for a weaker picture in domestic recovery, Citi economists said in a note.
In other markets
In Singapore, the Straits Times fell 12.35 points, or 0.4%, to 3,214.51.
In Taiwan, the Taiex fell 47.54 points, or 0.3%, to 15,770.66.
In Korea, the Kospi slid 12.82 points, or 0.5%, to 2,419.09
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 gave up 29.39 points, or 0.3%, to 11,826.15.
In Australia, the ASX 200 tacked on 3.36 points, or 0.1%, to 7,311.12.
