Asia markets mixed ahead of Nvidia earnings

Global stock markets opened the week positively, buoyed by anticipation for Nvidia’s upcoming earnings report. However, the Bank of Japan’s (BOJ) latest policy stance left investors uncertain about the future direction of interest rates.

In Asian markets, Japan’s Nikkei index declined 0.76 per cent, weighed down by a slump in healthcare stocks. Conversely, MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan advanced 0.7 per cent, reflecting a more optimistic sentiment.

Chinese stocks opened higher, with the CSI300 index gaining 1.22 per cent and the Shanghai Composite Index jumping 1.34 per cent. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index also rose 1.5 per cent, reflecting positive investor sentiment.

Oil prices edged higher, with Brent crude futures rising 0.18 per cent to $71.17 a barrel and US crude futures remaining relatively unchanged at $67.05 per barrel. Gold prices rebounded, gaining 1.24 per cent to $2,593.02 an ounce, after a sharp decline last week.

Attribution: Reuters

Subediting: M. S. Salama