💎 Fed’s first rate cut since 2020 set to trigger market. Find undervalued gems with Fair ValueSee Undervalued Stocks

Asian stocks rally as BoJ raises inflation target; Nikkei up 0.62%

Published 01/21/2013, 11:28 PM
Updated 01/21/2013, 11:29 PM
USD/JPY
-
Investing.com - Most Asian bourses rebounded from losses earlier in Tuesday’s session after the Bank of Japan boosted its inflation target and committed to open-ended asset purchases in an effort to rid Japan of deflationary pressures.

In Asian trading Tuesday, Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 0.62% after the central bank there raised its inflation target to 2%, inline with that of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s. BoJ was previously committed to an inflation target of 1% until some sign of inflation in the deflation-riddled economy could be spotted.

Japan, the world’s third-largest economy, last had 2% inflation in 1997 when USD/JPY resided in the 130 area. Amid intense pressure from Abe, traders widely expected the central bank to up its inflation target. While previous efforts to raise inflation and dampen the yen’s rise have failed, Abe’s radical initiatives seem to be restoring faith among traders that Japan may be turning a corner.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng added 0.28% while the Shanghai Composite rose 0.09%. Health care and staples names lead the declines for Chinese equities, but financial services issues were spotted higher.

Trading in Australia was listless prior to the BoJ announcement, but that country’s S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.2%. Japan is Australia's second-largest trading partner after China, though that relationship could be strained if Australian exporters suffer at the hands of a stronger Aussie dollar and weaker yen.

Also subject to some directionless trading prior to the BoJ new, New Zealand equities were able to piece together some gains with the NZSE 50 adding 0.08%.

Elsewhere, South Korea’s Kospi jumped 0.28% while Singapore’s Straits Times Index slid 0.02%. Should the yen continue to slide, some traders think South Korean equities could be vulnerable to some downside as Japanese exporters become more competitive with their South Korean rivals.

S&P 500 futures added 0.08%. U.S. markets were closed Monday in observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. national holiday and will reopen later today.


Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.