SINGAPORE – Asia Pacific stocks were mixed in Tuesday’s trading after the main Wall Street indices rose to record closing prices overnight in the United States.
The Nikkei 225 in Japan fell 0.88%, while the Topix index fell 0.79%. South Korea’s Kospi also fell 0.46%.
Mainland China shares have seen little change, with the Shanghai compound and the Shenzhen component slightly lower.
China’s service sector activity grew in March, according to a private sector survey released on Tuesday. The Purchasing Managers’ Index for the Caixin / Markit services for March stood at 54.3, compared with the February reading of 51.5.
PMI readings above 50 represent expansion, while those below that level mean contraction. PMI readings are sequential and represent month-over-month expansion or contraction.
In Australia, the S & P / ASX 200 advanced 0.78%. The Reserve Bank of Australia is expected to announce its interest rate decision at around 12:30 pm HK / SIN on Tuesday.
The broader MSCI index for Asia Pacific stocks outside Japan was traded 0.24% above.
Hong Kong markets are closed on Tuesdays due to the holiday.
Overnight on Wall Street, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 373.98 points, a record high of 33,527.19. The S&P 500 also had a record close, up 1.44% to 4,077.91. The high-tech Nasdaq Composite gained 1.67%, ending its trading day at 13,705.59.
Coins and oil
The US dollar index, which tracks the dollar against a basket of its peers, was at 92.614 – below levels above 93 previously seen.
The yen traded at 110.26 per dollar, weaker than levels around 109.5 against the dollar seen last week. The Australian dollar changed hands at $ 0.7646, after yesterday’s recovery of around $ 0.76.
Oil prices rose on the morning of trading in Asia, with Brent’s international benchmark oil futures rising 1.09% to $ 62.83 a barrel. US oil futures gained 1.16% to $ 59.33 a barrel.
Here’s a look at what’s available:
- Australia: Reserve Bank of Australia interest rate decision at 12:30 HK / SIN