After the conclusion of the Lunar New Year holidays, the majority of Asia-Pacific markets experienced gains as they returned to trade. South Korea and Singapore saw positive performances, with the Kospi and Kosdaq indices rising 1.16% and 1.28% respectively. In Japan, the Nikkei 225 climbed 1.82% on its open, surpassing the 37,000 mark and reaching 34-year highs. The Topix also performed well, rising 1.02%. If the Nikkei sustains these gains and closes above 37,000, it will achieve a 34-year high. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200, however, started the day with marginal losses, marking its third consecutive day of declines.
China’s markets remained closed for the week due to the Lunar New Year holiday, while Hong Kong is set to resume trading on Wednesday after being closed on Tuesday.
In the US, the Dow Jones Industrial Average reached a new high on Monday, rising 0.33% and settling at 38,797.38. On the other hand, the S&P 500 inched lower by 0.09%, and the Nasdaq Composite slid 0.3%.
Meanwhile, Japan’s corporate goods price index (CGPI) showed a 0.2% increase in January compared to the previous year, surpassing economists’ expectations. This growth rate is higher than the revised rate of 0.2% for December. On a month-on-month basis, the CGPI remained flat, indicating a slowdown from the previous month.
The CGPI measures the price changes of goods traded within the corporate sector, reflecting inflationary pressures. This increase in corporate inflation in Japan suggests potential economic growth and positive market conditions going forward.
FAQ Section:
1. What were the market performances in the Asia-Pacific region after the Lunar New Year holidays?
– South Korea’s Kospi index rose by 1.16%.
– Singapore’s Kosdaq index rose by 1.28%.
– Japan’s Nikkei 225 climbed by 1.82%, reaching a 34-year high.
– Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 had marginal losses, marking its third consecutive day of declines.
2. Why were China’s markets closed?
– China’s markets were closed for the week due to the Lunar New Year holiday.
3. When did Hong Kong resume trading after the holiday closure?
– Hong Kong resumed trading on Wednesday after being closed on Tuesday.
4. What were the market performances in the US?
– The Dow Jones Industrial Average reached a new high, rising by 0.33%.
– The S&P 500 inched lower by 0.09%.
– The Nasdaq Composite slid by 0.3%.
5. What was Japan’s corporate goods price index (CGPI) in January compared to the previous year?
– The CGPI showed a 0.2% increase in January compared to the previous year, surpassing economists’ expectations.
Key Terms/Jargon:
1. Lunar New Year: A traditional festival celebrated in countries across Asia to mark the beginning of the lunar calendar year.
2. Kospi: The stock market index of South Korea, representing the country’s major companies traded on the Korea Exchange.
3. Kosdaq: The stock market index of South Korea, representing smaller and medium-sized companies traded on the Korea Exchange.
4. Nikkei 225: The stock market index of Japan, measuring the performance of the country’s top 225 companies listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
5. Topix: The stock market index of Japan, representing all the companies listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange’s First Section.
6. S&P/ASX 200: The stock market index of Australia, measuring the performance of the top 200 companies listed on the Australian Securities Exchange.
7. Dow Jones Industrial Average: A stock market index in the US that measures the performance of 30 large, publicly-owned companies.
8. S&P 500: A stock market index in the US that measures the performance of 500 large companies listed on stock exchanges.
9. Nasdaq Composite: A stock market index in the US that represents the performance of more than 2,500 common equities listed on the Nasdaq stock market.
10. Corporate Goods Price Index (CGPI): A measure of the price changes of goods traded within the corporate sector in Japan, reflecting inflationary pressures.
Related Links:
1. www.koreaexchange.com – Official website of the Korea Exchange, providing information about the Korean stock market.
2. www.tse.or.jp – Official website of the Tokyo Stock Exchange, offering details about the Japanese stock market.
3. www.asx.com.au – Official website of the Australian Securities Exchange, providing information about the Australian stock market.
4. www.nasdaq.com – Official website of the Nasdaq Stock Market, offering details about the Nasdaq Composite index.