Asia-Pacific markets mixed amid key data releases; Japan and Australia rise, China dips on weak manufacturing; US trade deals progress, and gold price predicted to rise.
- Asia-Pacific Markets Mixed: Markets traded mixed as investors analyzed key regional economic data.
- Japan: Nikkei 225 rose 0.57%, Topix added 0.63%.
- South Korea: Kospi slipped 0.34%, Kosdaq lost 1.27%.
- Australia: S&P/ASX 200 added 0.69%.
- Hong Kong: Hang Seng Index added 0.51%.
- China: CSI 300 slipped 0.12% after weak manufacturing data.
- BOJ Meeting: Bank of Japan started its policy meeting, widely expected to hold rates.
- Australia Inflation: First-quarter inflation rose 2.4%, higher than expected.
- China Manufacturing: Manufacturing activity fell more than expected into contractionary territory.
- US-China Trade War Impact: Escalating trade war with the U.S. hurts bilateral trade.
- US Trade Deals: Trump says tariff negotiations with India are "coming along great," believes U.S. will strike a deal. "Substantial talks" with Japan and "contours of a deal" with South Korea.
- China Sovereign Fund Divestment: China Investment Corporation is offloading around $1 billion worth of U.S. private equity holdings.
- Indonesia Rupiah: Fitch Ratings warns of pressure on Indonesian companies due to weakening rupiah.
- Australia Inflation Steady: First-quarter inflation held steady at 2.4%, a four-year low.
- Japan Factory Output: Japan’s industrial production declined by 1.1% in March.
- Samsung Earnings Beat: Samsung’s first-quarter operating profit and revenue beat expectations due to rising chip sales.
- US Stocks Close Higher: Dow climbed 0.75%, S&P 500 gained 0.58%, Nasdaq Composite advanced 0.55%.
- Gold Price Prediction: John Paulson sees gold rising to almost $5,000 an ounce by 2028