(Sharecast News) - Asian stock markets delivered a mixed performance on Thursday as investors weighed steady policy signals from Hong Kong and Japan against surging South Korean export momentum.
As of 1100 GMT, Japan's Nikkei 225 was up 1.10% at 64,659.47 and the Topix edged up 0.29% to 4,003.28, while Korea's Kospi was 1.24% higher at 5,937.66 and the small-cap Kosdaq was 2.34% weaker at 753.23.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng index was 0.59% lower at 22,958.65, while Mainland China's CSI 300 shed 1.03% to 4,041.84, Australia's ASX was 0.50% stronger at 8,891.80 and New Zealand's NZX ticked up 0.14% to 13,710.17. Singapore's Straits Times Index was 0.03% softer at 5,396.03.
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority kept its base rate unchanged at 4.25%, mirroring the US Federal Reserve's hold, with officials noting that US rate uncertainty would continue to shape Hong Kong's interest‑rate environment.
Japanese government bonds were steady ahead of Friday's Bank of Japan decision, supported by firm demand at a two‑year note auction and gains in US Treasuries after the Fed's less‑hawkish‑than‑feared stance. Analysts said the backdrop reduced pressure on the BoJ to tighten aggressively, offering support to the yen bond market.
South Korea's export engine continued to fire, with October shipments forecast to have jumped 93.2% year‑on‑year - the fastest pace in more than 50 years - driven by AI‑related semiconductor demand and firmer memory‑chip prices. If realised, it would mark a 17th straight month of export growth, with GDP already beating expectations in the third quarter and SK Hynix reporting a seven‑fold profit surge.
In the corporate space, Samsung Electronics said third quarter operating profits jumped nearly ninefold to a record high, powered by surging demand for AI‑related chips. Despite the bumper earnings figure, the shares fell more than 4% as investors locked in gains after a near 7% rally in the previous session.
Reporting by Iain Gilbert at Sharecast.com