Investing.com - Asian stock markets declined on Thursday, tracking overnight losses on Wall Street, amid speculation over when the Federal Reserve will start to roll back its stimulus program.
During late Asian trade, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index dropped 0.6%, Australia’s ASX/200 Index ended down 0.82%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index closed 1.12% lower. Asia was given a negative lead from the U.S., where Wall Street closed lower amid ongoing uncertainty over the timing of a possible reduction in the Federal Reserve’s stimulus program.
In Tokyo, the Nikkei ended lower for the third consecutive session to hit a one-week low.
Automakers Toyota and Honda saw shares fall 0.8% and 1.2% respectively, while Panasonic dropped 1.35%.
Meanwhile, in Hong Kong, the Hang Seng dropped to a four-week low as traders awaited updates from China’s annual Central Economic Work Conference, which began on Tuesday, where policymakers will set economic growth targets and policy priorities for 2014.
Market analysts expect the Chinese government to maintain its targets of 7.5% for growth and 3.5% for inflation next year.
Elsewhere, in Australia, the ASX/200 Index fell to the lowest level since August 22 after data showed that the nation’s unemployment rate edged up to 5.8% last month from 5.7% in October.
Looking ahead, European stock market futures pointed to a mixed open.
The EURO STOXX 50 futures pointed to a loss of 0.35% at the open, France’s CAC 40 futures were flat, London’s FTSE 100 futures indicated a gain of 0.1%, while Germany's DAX futures pointed to a loss of 0.5%.
European Central Bank President Mario Draghi is to speak on monetary policy in the European Parliament in Strasbourg. Meanwhile, the ECB is to publish its monthly bulletin, while the euro zone is to release data on industrial production.
Across the Atlantic, U.S. equity markets pointed to a steady open. The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a flat open, S&P 500 futures signaled a 0.02% gain, while the Nasdaq 100 futures indicated a rise of 0.08%.
The U.S. is to produce data on retail sales as well as the weekly report on initial jobless claims.
During late Asian trade, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index dropped 0.6%, Australia’s ASX/200 Index ended down 0.82%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index closed 1.12% lower. Asia was given a negative lead from the U.S., where Wall Street closed lower amid ongoing uncertainty over the timing of a possible reduction in the Federal Reserve’s stimulus program.
In Tokyo, the Nikkei ended lower for the third consecutive session to hit a one-week low.
Automakers Toyota and Honda saw shares fall 0.8% and 1.2% respectively, while Panasonic dropped 1.35%.
Meanwhile, in Hong Kong, the Hang Seng dropped to a four-week low as traders awaited updates from China’s annual Central Economic Work Conference, which began on Tuesday, where policymakers will set economic growth targets and policy priorities for 2014.
Market analysts expect the Chinese government to maintain its targets of 7.5% for growth and 3.5% for inflation next year.
Elsewhere, in Australia, the ASX/200 Index fell to the lowest level since August 22 after data showed that the nation’s unemployment rate edged up to 5.8% last month from 5.7% in October.
Looking ahead, European stock market futures pointed to a mixed open.
The EURO STOXX 50 futures pointed to a loss of 0.35% at the open, France’s CAC 40 futures were flat, London’s FTSE 100 futures indicated a gain of 0.1%, while Germany's DAX futures pointed to a loss of 0.5%.
European Central Bank President Mario Draghi is to speak on monetary policy in the European Parliament in Strasbourg. Meanwhile, the ECB is to publish its monthly bulletin, while the euro zone is to release data on industrial production.
Across the Atlantic, U.S. equity markets pointed to a steady open. The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a flat open, S&P 500 futures signaled a 0.02% gain, while the Nasdaq 100 futures indicated a rise of 0.08%.
The U.S. is to produce data on retail sales as well as the weekly report on initial jobless claims.