SINGAPORE – Asia-Pacific markets rose on the first day of the new quarter as investors await the results of a private survey on sugar factory activity.
Nikkei 225 Japan gained 0.37% and Topix 0.42%, before losing some gains.
According to the Bank of Japan’s quarterly Tankan Business Sentiment Survey, sentiment worsened in Japan’s major manufacturers in the April-to-June period. The headline index for large manufacturers’ sentiment came in at 9, a decline from the previous quarter’s reading of 14.
in South Korea, kospi advanced 0.67%, and the Kosdaq was up 0.75%.
of australia S&P/ASX 200 was 0.59% higher.
MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose 0.24%.
The Caixin/Market Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index for June will also be released later on Friday. According to a Reuters poll, it is expected to be 50.1.
PMI readings are gradual and represent expansion or contraction from month to month. The 50-level separates contraction from expansion.
The official PMI for June stood at 50.2. According to the data released on Thursday, it is returning to growth after three months.
Hong Kong markets remained closed on Friday for a holiday.
The city is celebrating the 25th anniversary of its handover from the UK to China on Friday. Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Hong Kong on Thursday To participate in anniversary events. This was his first visit outside mainland China since the outbreak of Kovid.
Hong Kong’s new chief executive John Lee will also be sworn in on Friday. Li, a Beijing loyalist, was the only candidate in the race to replace outgoing leader Carrie Lam.
on Wall Street, US stocks closed lower in the second quarter of the year, The S&P 500, which had its worst first half in more than 50 years, lost nearly 0.9% to 3,785.38.
Meanwhile, the Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 253.88 points, or 0.8%, to 30,775.43 and the Nasdaq Composite was down 1.3% at 11,028.74.
currencies
US Dollar IndexThe greenback, who tracks against a basket of his teammates, was at 104.811.
Japanese yen After weakening slightly from the 137 level earlier this week, it traded at 135.85 per dollar. Australian Dollar was at $0.6896.
Oil futures rose in Asian trade. US crude rose 0.62% to $106.42 a barrel, while the international benchmark crude oil rose 0.7% to $109.78 a barrel.