Market indexes in Hong Kong and South Korea closed higher and indexes in Tokyo edged lower. Toyota Motor paved the way for a younger leader as the automobile industry adjusts to electric and connected vehicles.
Markets indexes in Japan closed at 5-week high after tech stocks rallied following the advance in New York and the yen traded near a 7-month high. The Indian government is expected to announce additional measures to accelerate the manufacturing sector.
The Nikkei in Tokyo closed higher after the yen drifted lower from last week's seven month high after the release of the Bank of Japan's December policy meeting minutes. China markets resume trading next Monday.
European markets closed higher and trimmed weekly losses to less than one percent. Natural gas prices traded near 16-month low after storages are at near-full levels in the region.
The People's Bank of China held its key lending rates for the fifth month in a row. Japan's Prime Minister Kishida announced a plan to downgrade Covid-19 disease classification and end social restrictions.
Japan posted a record trade deficit following a surge in energy and raw materials prices and record low yen. International tourists arrivals jumped in Japan and India's domestic air traffic rebounded.
The Bank of Japan held its key short-term lending rate and continued its ultra-low rate policy defying rising inflationary pressures. Stocks in China were under pressure on the worries of another covid-virus flare-up after the holiday period.
The Bank of Japan is expected to revise its rates higher on Wednesday. China's economic growth slowed less than expected but fell short of the target set by the government.
Tokyo stocks declined ahead of the rate hike and the yen appreciated to a 7-month high. Property market weakness persisted in China. India's wholesale inflation eased.
Market indexes in Tokyo increased after the yen dropped for the fourth day in a row but auto sales fell to a 45-year low. China stocks rebounded on reopening hopes and Hong Kong index surged the most in two decades.
Market indexes in Tokyo gained after the December minutes of the U.S. Fed's meeting was deemed less hawkish than anticipated. Technology stocks in Hong Kong led the gainers and property stocks advanced in Shanghai and Hong Kong after PBOC pledged more support.
Benchmark indexes in Tokyo closed down but indexes in Hong Kong rebounded on the hopes of peak virus and government support for the weak property market.
U.S. and global recession worries put Asian markets on a downward trend. China's trade surplus shrinks to the smallest level since April and exports fell for the second month in a row. India lowered its key lending rate.
The Nikkei index in Tokyo declined after industrial production fell short of expectations in October. Market indexes in India soared to new peaks on strong inflow of foreign capital.
