Nikada
Japan (NKY:IND) +0.03%. The market is now focused on the upcoming Tokyo inflation data, to be released on Friday, which will provide insights into nationwide price trends and potential impacts on interest rates.
China (SHCOMP) +3.03%. Traders welcomed the Chinese central bank’s surprise decision to lower the RRR by 50bps to 10%, injecting around CNY 1 trillion of cash into the banking system ahead of the Lunar New Year festival. This move sends a strong signal of support for the economy and the stock markets.
Hong Kong (HSI) +1.87%.
India (SENSEX) -0.84%.
Australia (AS51) +0.48%.
In the U.S. on Wednesday, all three major indexes ended mixed as investors digested a strong batch of earnings from tech companies.
U.S. stock futures held steady on Thursday as investors prepared for the fourth quarter gross domestic product report: Dow +0.29%; S&P 500 +0.11%; Nasdaq +0.08%.
Investors remained cautious ahead of key US economic data and the European Central Bank’s policy decision later in the day. The US GDP report will be released on Thursday while the Fed-preferred PCE inflation data will come on Friday.
Additionally, geopolitical tensions remained a concern, with a coalition led by the US and UK conducting strikes against Houthi fighters in Yemen, who have been responsible for multiple attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea.
Currencies: (JPY:USD), (CNY:USD), (AUD:USD), (INR:USD), (HKD:USD), (NZD:USD).
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