Asian markets see minor losses on Christmas Day

Shares in Tokyo and Shanghai experienced slight declines on Wednesday, amidst limited global trading activity due to the Christmas holiday. Oil prices, however, saw gains.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 index edged down 0.1 per cent to close at 38,997.02, while the Shanghai Composite index also saw a minor loss of 0.2 per cent, settling at 3,387.41. These were among the few major markets open for trading on Christmas Day.

In other market news, US benchmark crude oil rose by 93 cents to $70.17 per barrel early Wednesday. Brent crude, the international standard, also saw a slight increase of 6 cents, reaching $73.23 per barrel.

Currency markets also saw some movement. The dollar strengthened against the Japanese yen, rising from 157.11 yen to 157.37 yen. The euro also appreciated against the dollar, climbing from $1.0397 to $1.0431.

Attribution: AP

Subediting: M. S. Salama