Asia-Pacific markets mixed-----
Saturday, 18 January 2025
Asia-Pacific markets traded mixed Friday as investors parse a slew of economic data out of China, reports CNBC.
China's economy expanded by 5 per cent year on year in 2024, with an upswing in the final quarter of the year. The country's fourth-quarter GDP beat expectations with a 5.4 per cent growth.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng index was up 0.21 per cent in its final hour of trade. The index is on track for its fourth straight day of gains. Meanwhile, mainland China's CSI 300 gained 0.31 per cent to end the day at 3,812.34.
The offshore yuan strengthened 0.06 per cent to 7.3419 against the greenback.
Japan's Nikkei 225 ended the day down 0.31 per cent at 38,451.46, while the Topix lost 0.33 per cent to 2,679.42.
South Korea's Kospi closed fell 0.16 per cent to 2,523.55 while the Kosdaq edged up 0.06 per cent to 724.69.
Australia's S&P/ASX 200 dipped 0.2 per cent to close at 8,310.4.
Overnight in the US, the major averages gave up gains from earlier in the day with the S&P 500 slipping to end a three-day winning streak as big tech shares pulled back.