Investing.com – Asian stock markets were mixed on Thursday, as shares in Hong Kong regained strength amid indications China will ease monetary policy, while shares in Japan dropped to a 31-month low a day after being closed for a public holiday.
During late Asian trade, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index edged 0.4% higher, Australia’s ASX/200 Index eased down 0.2%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index tumbled 1.8%.
The Nikkei slumped to the lowest level since April 2009, catching up to steep losses from the previous session after a poor German bond auction and weak manufacturing data from China fuelled concerns over the global economic outlook.
Shares in Japanese exporters performed poorly, with automakers Nissan and Mazda falling 1.2% and 2.25% respectively, while shares in heavy machinery maker Komatsu tumbled 4.05%.
Japanese investment banks Nomura Holdings and Daiwa Securities, which have large exposure to European sovereign debt, plunged 5.5% and 4.1% respectively, while the nation’s largest lender Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group retreated 1.25%.
On the upside, shares in scandal-hit Olympus continued to rebound from sharp losses suffered in recent weeks amid fears the company would be delisted from the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Its shares rallied 17.3%.
Elsewhere, in Hong Kong, shares in lenders regained strength after China’s central bank confirmed it had lowered the reserve requirement ratio for six rural banks in Zhejiang province, fuelling hopes of further easing measures.
China’s largest lender Industrial and Commercial Bank of China shares gained 1.2%, China Merchants Bank jumped 2.95%, while Agricultural Bank of China saw shares rise 2.9%.
Property developers also contributed to gains, with shares of China Resources Land Limited surging 5.1% and Shimao Property Holdings rallying 5.8%.
Meanwhile, the outlook for European stock markets was upbeat. The EURO STOXX 50 futures pointed to a gain of 1%, France’s CAC 40 futures rose 0.95%, the FTSE 100 futures added 0.45%, while Germany's DAX futures indicated a rise of 1.15%.
Later in the day, the Ifo Institute for Economic Research was to publish a report on German business climate. Markets in the U.S. were to remain closed for Thanksgiving.
During late Asian trade, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index edged 0.4% higher, Australia’s ASX/200 Index eased down 0.2%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index tumbled 1.8%.
The Nikkei slumped to the lowest level since April 2009, catching up to steep losses from the previous session after a poor German bond auction and weak manufacturing data from China fuelled concerns over the global economic outlook.
Shares in Japanese exporters performed poorly, with automakers Nissan and Mazda falling 1.2% and 2.25% respectively, while shares in heavy machinery maker Komatsu tumbled 4.05%.
Japanese investment banks Nomura Holdings and Daiwa Securities, which have large exposure to European sovereign debt, plunged 5.5% and 4.1% respectively, while the nation’s largest lender Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group retreated 1.25%.
On the upside, shares in scandal-hit Olympus continued to rebound from sharp losses suffered in recent weeks amid fears the company would be delisted from the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Its shares rallied 17.3%.
Elsewhere, in Hong Kong, shares in lenders regained strength after China’s central bank confirmed it had lowered the reserve requirement ratio for six rural banks in Zhejiang province, fuelling hopes of further easing measures.
China’s largest lender Industrial and Commercial Bank of China shares gained 1.2%, China Merchants Bank jumped 2.95%, while Agricultural Bank of China saw shares rise 2.9%.
Property developers also contributed to gains, with shares of China Resources Land Limited surging 5.1% and Shimao Property Holdings rallying 5.8%.
Meanwhile, the outlook for European stock markets was upbeat. The EURO STOXX 50 futures pointed to a gain of 1%, France’s CAC 40 futures rose 0.95%, the FTSE 100 futures added 0.45%, while Germany's DAX futures indicated a rise of 1.15%.
Later in the day, the Ifo Institute for Economic Research was to publish a report on German business climate. Markets in the U.S. were to remain closed for Thanksgiving.