Investing.com - Asian stock markets were mixed on Thursday, after the minutes of the Federal Reserve’s most recent policy meeting indicated stimulus may be reduced in coming months.
Disappoint Chinese manufacturing data further weighed on appetite for riskier assets.
During late Asian trade, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index dropped 0.4%, Australia’s ASX/200 Index ended 0.37% lower, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index closed up 1.92%.
According to the minutes of the Fed’s October meeting, policymakers said they could start scaling back the USD85 billion-a-month asset purchase program in the “coming months” if the economy continues to improve as expected.
Midway through the session, data showed that China’s HSBC Flash Purchasing Managers Index, the earliest indicator of the country's industrial activity, fell to 50.4 in November from a final reading of 50.9 in October.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng held eased off the highest level since February following the release of the disappointing Chinese factory report.
Meanwhile, in Australia, the ASX/200 Index fell to a four-week low as renewed uncertainty over when the U.S. Federal Reserve will scale back its stimulus measures weighed on sentiment.
Elsewhere, in Tokyo, the Nikkei rallied sharply as traders continued to monitor movements in the currency market.
USD/JPY rose to hit a daily high of 100.83, moving off the previous session’s low of 99.77. A weaker yen increases the value of overseas income at Japanese companies when repatriated, improving the outlook for export earnings.
The Bank of Japan made no changes to its aggressive monetary easing policy in a widely expected decision. The BoJ also affirmed plans to increase the monetary base at an annual pace of about JPY60 trillion to JPY70 trillion.
Looking ahead, European stock market futures pointed to a lower open.
The EURO STOXX 50 futures pointed to a loss of 0.55% at the open, France’s CAC 40 futures fell 0.5%, London’s FTSE 100 futures indicated a drop of 0.3%, while Germany's DAX futures pointed to a loss of 0.4%.
Investors were looking ahead to euro zone data on manufacturing and service sector activity later in the session.
Meanwhile in the U.S., equity markets pointed to a flat open. The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a 0.01% gain, S&P 500 futures signaled a 0.02% advance, while the Nasdaq 100 futures indicated a rise of 0.05%.
Disappoint Chinese manufacturing data further weighed on appetite for riskier assets.
During late Asian trade, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index dropped 0.4%, Australia’s ASX/200 Index ended 0.37% lower, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index closed up 1.92%.
According to the minutes of the Fed’s October meeting, policymakers said they could start scaling back the USD85 billion-a-month asset purchase program in the “coming months” if the economy continues to improve as expected.
Midway through the session, data showed that China’s HSBC Flash Purchasing Managers Index, the earliest indicator of the country's industrial activity, fell to 50.4 in November from a final reading of 50.9 in October.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng held eased off the highest level since February following the release of the disappointing Chinese factory report.
Meanwhile, in Australia, the ASX/200 Index fell to a four-week low as renewed uncertainty over when the U.S. Federal Reserve will scale back its stimulus measures weighed on sentiment.
Elsewhere, in Tokyo, the Nikkei rallied sharply as traders continued to monitor movements in the currency market.
USD/JPY rose to hit a daily high of 100.83, moving off the previous session’s low of 99.77. A weaker yen increases the value of overseas income at Japanese companies when repatriated, improving the outlook for export earnings.
The Bank of Japan made no changes to its aggressive monetary easing policy in a widely expected decision. The BoJ also affirmed plans to increase the monetary base at an annual pace of about JPY60 trillion to JPY70 trillion.
Looking ahead, European stock market futures pointed to a lower open.
The EURO STOXX 50 futures pointed to a loss of 0.55% at the open, France’s CAC 40 futures fell 0.5%, London’s FTSE 100 futures indicated a drop of 0.3%, while Germany's DAX futures pointed to a loss of 0.4%.
Investors were looking ahead to euro zone data on manufacturing and service sector activity later in the session.
Meanwhile in the U.S., equity markets pointed to a flat open. The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a 0.01% gain, S&P 500 futures signaled a 0.02% advance, while the Nasdaq 100 futures indicated a rise of 0.05%.