Investing.com - Asian shares were mixed on Thursday in cautious trade ahead of a meeting of central bankers int he U.S. state of Wyoming that could provide fresh cues on interest rates and unwinding stimulus plans.
The Nikkei 225 fell 0.27%, while the S&P/ASX 200 gained 0.18%. In greater China, the Hong Kong Hang Seng index gained 0.61%, while the Shanghai Composite dipped 0.4%.
South Korea's Kospi gained 0.49%. Samsung Electronics (KS:005930) launched its Galaxy Note 8 model in New York on Wednesday. The company was forced to recall its Galaxy Note 7 model last year after a battery problem led to several devices overheating and catching fire. Samsung shares fell 0.04%.
Overnight, U.S. stocks closed lower on Wednesday, as political jitters returned to Washington in the wake of President Trump’s threat to shut down the government in order to secure funds for a proposed U.S.-Mexico border wall.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed lower at 21,812. The S&P 500 closed 0.35% lower while the Nasdaq Composite closed at 6278.41, down 0.30%.
Wall Street once again found itself victim of turmoil in Washington amid fears that President Trump’s economic agenda, which includes tax reform, could be further delayed, after the president threatened to shut down the government if his border wall wasn't funded.
At a rally in Arizona Tuesday night, Trump said: "If we have to close down our government, we're building that wall."
Investor fears over delays to the Trump’s administration economic agenda come a day after a report on Tuesday suggested that the Trump administration and key lawmakers had found common ground on how to approach tax reform.
Investor focus, however, is expected to shift to monetary policy on Thursday as a two-day central banking symposium gets underway in Jackson Hole. Speeches by European Central Bank president Mario Draghi and Janet Yellen are expected to be closely monitored for clues about future monetary policy.
Meanwhile on the corporate earnings front, investors cheered better-than-expected earnings from HP after US markets closed on Wednesday. The computer and printer manufacturer’s net income, however, fell 13% compared to same period a year ago. Shares of HP Inc (NYSE:HPQ) fell more than 3% in after hours trade.