International
Tech, Oil Views Roil Asian Stock Markets
Asian stock markets were mixed Friday as traders again embraced tech issues, while keeping an eye on Middle East developments and global crude prices.Hong Kong and Tokyo finished in green, while Shanghai edged lower. Other regional exchanges were uneven, with Taiwan's TWSE advancing 3.2% on AI-sector optimism and on a regulatory change that allows more institutional investing in the island's chip-making colossus, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing.Brent crude oil futures traded at $107.12 a barrel during market hours, up 2%.In Japan, the Nikkei 225 opened higher and held ground, finishing up 1% as a tech- and AI-sector rally again lifted the index.The benchmark Nikkei 225 rose 575.95 to 59,716.18, although losing issues outnumbered gainers 131 to 91.Leading the upside was tech- and ceramics-manufacturer Ibiden, gaining 12.6%, while imaging house Konica Minolta declined 10.6%.In economic news, Japan's widely quoted consumer price index (CPI)-core, which strips out fresh food prices, rose 1.8% in March on the year, up from 1.6% in February, the Statistics Bureau reported.The nation's headline CPI rose 1.5% on the year in March, up from 1.3% in February.In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index opened lower but rose to the close, edging up 0.2% as traders balanced tech-sector optimism against geopolitical tensions.The broad gauge Hang Seng rose 62.87 to 25,978.07 as gaining issues outnumbered losers 46 to 43. The Hang Seng TECH Index gained 0.8% on the day, while the Mainland Properties Index fell 0.3%.Leading the upside was Semiconductor Manufacturing International, gaining 10%, while Li Auto declined 4.4%.On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite fell 0.3% to 4,079.90.On the other regional exchanges, the South Korean KOSPI was steady; the Taiwan TWSE rose 3.2%; the Australian ASX 200 declined 0.1%; the Singapore Straits Times Index fell 0.4%, and the Thai Set declined 0.4%. In late trading in Mumbai, the Sensex was down 1.2%The MSCI All Country Asia Pacific Index rose 0.4% on the day.
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