SINGAPORE – Asia-Pacific equities were largely lower in trading on Wednesday as concerns about a global pandemic recovery affected investor sentiment.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 1.1% in morning trading, while the Topix index fell 1.49% In South Korea, Kospi fell 0.11%.
Stocks in mainland China also fell, the Shanghai composite fell 0.5%, while the Shenzhen component fell 0.308%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index fell 0.49%.
Shares in Australia declined the general trend at the regional level, as the S & P / ASX 200 gained 0.55%.
The largest MSCI index of Asia-Pacific equities outside Japan traded 0.43% lower.
Many regions globally are experiencing an increase in new Covid-19 cases as highly contagious variants continue to spread, the World Health Organization said earlier this week. In Europe, authorities continue to fight the virus while the region fights a third wave of Covid.
As part of its corporate developments, Chinese internet giant Tencent will announce its fourth quarter and annual results on Wednesday. Tencent shares in Hong Kong rose more than 1% in trading on Wednesday morning.
In Taiwan, the shares of chip maker Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company fell more than 2% in trading on Wednesday morning. It came after Intel announced it would spend $ 20 billion to build two new chip factories in Arizona.
Meanwhile, Chinese streaming company Bilibili announced on Tuesday that it will raise $ 20.2 billion from Hong Kong (about $ 2.6 billion) in the next secondary list in Hong Kong, after listing its shares at $ 808 billion. Hong Kong each. Bilibili shares are expected to begin trading in Hong Kong on Monday.
Coins and oil
The US dollar index, which is following the green dollar against a basket of its colleagues, was at 92,383 after rising from levels below 91.8 at the beginning of the week.
The Japanese yen traded at 108.54 per dollar, compared to levels around 108.9 against the green dollar seen earlier this week. The Australian dollar changed hands at $ 0.761, after falling above $ 0.768 yesterday.
Oil prices were mixed in the morning trading hours in Asia, with international references to Brent crude futures rising 0.13% to $ 60.87 a barrel. Gross US futures were below the fixed line, trading at $ 57.75 a barrel.