Markets in Asia mixed as Bank of Japan move fails to move investors
By Danny McCord, AFPHONG KONG -- Asian markets were mixed on Tuesday, with Tokyo's Nikkei falling and the yen strengthening as the Bank of Japan's (BOJ) plan to boost the economy disappointed dealers.
January 23, 2013, 12:01 am TWN
After a two-day meeting the central bank said it would adopt a 2-percent inflation target demanded by the country's new government while also launching an open-ended asset-purchase scheme.
Tokyo enjoyed an initial and brief surge after the announcement, jumping into positive territory, but soon fell back as investors read the details.
The Nikkei index ended 0.35 percent, or 37.81 points, lower at 10,709.93.
Seoul gained 0.49 percent, or 9.66 points, to 1,996.52, while Sydney was flat, nudging up 1.6 points to 4,779.1.
Hong Kong was 0.29 percent higher, adding 68.08 points, to 23,658.99 but Shanghai fell 0.56 percent, or 13.08 points, to 2,315.14.
U.S. markets were closed on Monday for a public holiday, as President Barack Obama was sworn in for a second term.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who swept to power last month, has moved to bring BOJ policies into line with his new government's position. But the plan failed to impress investors.
“Upon closer review, the BOJ's plan had already been so well telegraphed into the market that 'merely meeting expectations' did not cut it for investors,” an equity trading director at a foreign brokerage told Dow Jones Newswires.
“In the end, while the yen weakening over the last two months has been nice to see — and especially welcome for exporters' margins — key U.S. and European growth needs to return to help corporate fundamentals to improve.”
Gold was at US$1,692.41 at 1030 GMT compared with US$1,688.89 late Monday.
In other markets:
— Manila fell 1.08 percent, or 66.80 points, to 6,104.90.
— Wellington was flat, edging up 1.90 points to 4,187.08.
Telecom added 0.21 percent to NZ$2.365, Contact Energy was unchanged at NZ$5.17 and Fletcher Building was down 0.11 percent at NZ$9.29.
— Singapore closed down 0.05 percent, or 1.46 points, to 3,219.86.
United Overseas Bank gained 0.91 percent to SG$18.80, while Fraser and Neave dropped 1.95 percent to SG$9.55.
— Kuala Lumpur fell 6.97 points, or 0.43 percent, to 1,628.66.
Telekom Malaysia shed 0.5 percent to 5.55 ringgit and UEM Land Holdings dipped 1.4 percent to 2.15.
— Bangkok lost 0.44 percent or 6.39 points to 1,434.09.
Oil company PTT fell 0.30 percent to 335.00 baht, while coal producer Banpu dropped 0.75 percent to 396.00 baht.
— Jakarta ended down 23.43 points, or 0.53 percent, at 4,416,55.
Miner Aneka Tambang dropped 3.68 percent to 1,310 rupiah and cigarette maker Gudang Garam slid 1.86 percent to 52,700 rupiah.
— Mumbai fell 0.50 percent, or 120.25 points, to 19,981.57 points.