Investing.com – Asian stocks were mixed on Thursday, with real estate and financial sector stocks gaining but exporters declining, as the yen rose to a fresh 15-year high against the U.S. dollar.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index gained 0.09%, South Korea's Kospi Composite declined 0.16% and Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index shed 0.07%.
In Japan, many of the big name exporters declined, as the yen rose to a fresh 15-year high against the U.S. dollar.
Shares in digital-camera maker Canon fell 1.27%, Panasonic, the world’s largest maker of plasma televisions declined 1.30% and Fanuc Ltd., Japan’s leading manufacturer of industrial robots slipped 1.63%.
But stocks in the financial and real estate sectors extended gains after the Bank of Japan on Tuesday took additional steps to ease monetary conditions.
Shares in Japan’s third-biggest bank Mizuho Financial Group added 0.79%, stocks of the nation’s largest lender Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group jumped 1.00%, while Sumitomo Realty & Development stocks climbed 1.74% and Mitsubishi Estate Company soared 2.17%.
In Europe, equity markets opened lower. The EURO STOXX 50 was down 0.13%, France’s CAC 40 shed 0.21%, the FTSE 100 declined 0.04% and Germany's DAX fell 0.02%.
Later in the day, the European Central Bank was to announce its interest rate, followed by a closely watched press conference.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index gained 0.09%, South Korea's Kospi Composite declined 0.16% and Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index shed 0.07%.
In Japan, many of the big name exporters declined, as the yen rose to a fresh 15-year high against the U.S. dollar.
Shares in digital-camera maker Canon fell 1.27%, Panasonic, the world’s largest maker of plasma televisions declined 1.30% and Fanuc Ltd., Japan’s leading manufacturer of industrial robots slipped 1.63%.
But stocks in the financial and real estate sectors extended gains after the Bank of Japan on Tuesday took additional steps to ease monetary conditions.
Shares in Japan’s third-biggest bank Mizuho Financial Group added 0.79%, stocks of the nation’s largest lender Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group jumped 1.00%, while Sumitomo Realty & Development stocks climbed 1.74% and Mitsubishi Estate Company soared 2.17%.
In Europe, equity markets opened lower. The EURO STOXX 50 was down 0.13%, France’s CAC 40 shed 0.21%, the FTSE 100 declined 0.04% and Germany's DAX fell 0.02%.
Later in the day, the European Central Bank was to announce its interest rate, followed by a closely watched press conference.