Asia-Pacific markets tumbled Thursday in a choppy session as investors fretted the U.S. Federal Reserve could delay policy easing due to inflation worries, while China’s entrenched consumer disinflation further dented sentiment.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 plummeted 375.97 points, or 0.9%, to 39,605.09.
The Japanese yen strengthened slightly to 158.05 against the U.S. dollar, recovering from the five-month low on Wednesday.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index lost 38.95 points, or 0.2%, to 19,240.89.
CHINA
The CSI 300 slid 9.34 points, or 0.3%, to 3,779.88.
China’s inflation data for December released Thursday showed the consumer price index edged up 0.1% last month from a year ago, while the producer price index dropped 2.3% year-on-year, sliding for the 27th straight month.
Economists at Barclays expect the CPI to stay low for longer and PPI to remain in deflation throughout 2025, they said in a note after the data release, while cutting the full-year inflation forecast to 0.4% due to a lack of demand-side stimulus, looming tariff hikes and structural headwinds.
In other markets,
In Singapore, the Straits Times index sagged 24.38 points, or 0.6%. to 3,862.60
In Korea, the Kospi index inched up 0.85 points to 2,521.90.
In Taiwan, the Taiex index fell 396.2 points, or 1.4%, to 23,081.13.
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 slumped 99.37 points, or 0.8%, to 12,943.74.
In Australia, the ASX 200 retreated 19.98 points, or 0.2%, to 8,329.17.
