Asian Markets Mixed, Australia Central Bank Keeps Cash Rate Unchanged

Shares in major Asia-Pacific markets struggled for direction on Tuesday as investors reacted to the Australian central bank’s interest rate decision.

The Nikkei 225 in Japan rose 0.16% to close at 28,643.21, while the Topix index advanced 0.28% to end the trading day at 1,954.50. Over in South Korea, the Kospi gained 0.36% on the day to 3,305.21.

Mainland Chinese stocks, on the other hand, closed lower. The Shanghai composite slipped 0.11% to 3,530.26, while the Shenzhen component dipped 0.347% to about 14,667.65. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index fell around 0.2% as of its final hour of trading.

Meanwhile, the S&P/ASX 200 closed 0.73% lower at 7,261.80.

MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose about 0.1%.

The Reserve Bank of Australia announced Tuesday its decision to keep the cash rate target at 0.1%. Following that announcement, the Australian dollar changed hands at $0.7583, still above levels below $0.752 seen yesterday.

Shares of Asia-Pacific firms in the oil space rose on Tuesday trade, with Australia’s Beach Energy rising 1.96% while Santos gained 0.41%. Shares of Inpex in Japan also jumped 1.78%. In Hong Kong, shares of CNOOC climbed 1.56% as of their final hour of trading.

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Asian Markets Currencies and Oil

The U.S. dollar index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of its peers, was at 92.04 — off levels above 92.4, seen late last week.

The Japanese yen traded at 110.89 per dollar after an earlier low of 110.97 against the greenback.