Investing.com - Asian stock markets were mixed on Monday, after stronger-than-expected U.S. nonfarm payrolls data fuelled speculation that the Federal Reserve may start tapering stimulus sooner-than-expected.
During late Asian trade, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index rose 0.9%, Australia’s ASX/200 Index ended 0.25% lower, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index closed 1.3% higher.
Official data on Friday showed that the U.S. economy added 204,000 jobs in October, much more than the 125,000 increase forecast by economists. September's figure was revised up to 163,000 from a previously reported 148,000.
The robust data raised the possibility that the Fed may start to scale back its USD85 billion-a-month asset purchase program as soon as next month.
In Tokyo, the Nikkei outperformed the region as traders monitored movements in the currency market.
USD/JPY rose to hit a session high of 99.23, moving off the previous day’s low of 97.96. A weaker yen increases the value of overseas income at Japanese companies when repatriated, boosting the outlook for export earnings.
Automakers Nissan and Honda saw shares rise 1.6% and 1.7% respectively, while Komatsu and Fanuc advanced 1.25% and 1.05%.
Meanwhile, in Hong Kong, the Hang Seng edged higher after data released over the weekend showed that Chinese industrial output rose more-than-forecast in October, while consumer price inflation inched up modestly.
Industrial production rose 10.3% last month, beating expectations for a 10.0% increase, while CPI inched up to 3.2% from 3.1% in September.
Market players looked ahead to the outcome of a four-day meeting of China’s top Communist Party officials on Tuesday, amid expectations that the country’s new government will unveil economic reforms.
The China banking sector were among the biggest gainers on the index, with China Construction Bank shares rising 2.2%, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China jumping 2.7% and China Minsheng Bank adding 2.2%.
Elsewhere, In Australia, the ASX/200 Index edged lower as losses in the banking sector weighed on the benchmark index.
National Australia Bank shares lost 0.65%, while ANZ Banking Group and Westpac Banking Group declined 1.75% and 0.2%. Commonwealth Banking Group shed 0.95%.
Looking ahead, European stock market futures pointed to a modestly higher open.
The EURO STOXX 50 futures pointed to a gain of 0.3% at the open, France’s CAC 40 futures added 0.2%, London’s FTSE 100 futures indicated a rise of 0.35%, while Germany's DAX futures pointed to a gain of 0.2% at the open.
During late Asian trade, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index rose 0.9%, Australia’s ASX/200 Index ended 0.25% lower, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index closed 1.3% higher.
Official data on Friday showed that the U.S. economy added 204,000 jobs in October, much more than the 125,000 increase forecast by economists. September's figure was revised up to 163,000 from a previously reported 148,000.
The robust data raised the possibility that the Fed may start to scale back its USD85 billion-a-month asset purchase program as soon as next month.
In Tokyo, the Nikkei outperformed the region as traders monitored movements in the currency market.
USD/JPY rose to hit a session high of 99.23, moving off the previous day’s low of 97.96. A weaker yen increases the value of overseas income at Japanese companies when repatriated, boosting the outlook for export earnings.
Automakers Nissan and Honda saw shares rise 1.6% and 1.7% respectively, while Komatsu and Fanuc advanced 1.25% and 1.05%.
Meanwhile, in Hong Kong, the Hang Seng edged higher after data released over the weekend showed that Chinese industrial output rose more-than-forecast in October, while consumer price inflation inched up modestly.
Industrial production rose 10.3% last month, beating expectations for a 10.0% increase, while CPI inched up to 3.2% from 3.1% in September.
Market players looked ahead to the outcome of a four-day meeting of China’s top Communist Party officials on Tuesday, amid expectations that the country’s new government will unveil economic reforms.
The China banking sector were among the biggest gainers on the index, with China Construction Bank shares rising 2.2%, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China jumping 2.7% and China Minsheng Bank adding 2.2%.
Elsewhere, In Australia, the ASX/200 Index edged lower as losses in the banking sector weighed on the benchmark index.
National Australia Bank shares lost 0.65%, while ANZ Banking Group and Westpac Banking Group declined 1.75% and 0.2%. Commonwealth Banking Group shed 0.95%.
Looking ahead, European stock market futures pointed to a modestly higher open.
The EURO STOXX 50 futures pointed to a gain of 0.3% at the open, France’s CAC 40 futures added 0.2%, London’s FTSE 100 futures indicated a rise of 0.35%, while Germany's DAX futures pointed to a gain of 0.2% at the open.