Hong Kong, Taiwan fall more than 1% each as Asia-Pacific investors watch Covid situation in India
- Investors in Asia-Pacific continued monitoring the Covid situation in India as the country continues to battle a deadly second wave of infections. Over the weekend, more than 400,000 daily new cases were registered for the first time.
- Markets in China, Japan and Thailand are closed on Monday for holidays.
(CNBC)-SINGAPORE — Stocks in Asia-Pacific slipped in Monday trade, with major markets in China and Japan closed for holidays.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index was among the biggest losers regionally as it fell around 1.5%, as of its final hour of trading. The Taiex in Taiwan also dropped 1.96% to close at 17,222.35.
South Korea’s Kospi shed 0.66% to close at 3,127.20. Over in Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 ended the trading day slightly higher at 7,028.80.
MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan dipped 0.78%.
Investors in Asia-Pacific continued monitoring the Covid situation in India as the country continues to battle a deadly second wave of infections. Over the weekend, more than 400,000 daily new cases were registered for the first time.
Markets in China, Japan and Thailand are closed on Monday for holidays.
| TICKER | COMPANY | NAME | PRICE | CHANGE | %CHANGE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| .N225 | Nikkei 225 Index | NIKKEI | 28812.63 | -241.34 | -0.83 |
| .HSI | Hang Seng Index | HSI | 28347.04 | -377.84 | -1.32 |
| .AXJO | S&P/ASX 200 | ASX 200 | 7028.80 | 3.00 | 0.04 |
| .SSEC | Shanghai | SHANGHAI | 3446.86 | -28.04 | -0.81 |
| .KS11 | KOSPI Index | KOSPI | 3127.20 | -20.66 | -0.66 |
| .FTFCNBCA | CNBC 100 ASIA IDX | CNBC 100 | 10895.46 | -85.69 | -0.78 |
Currencies and oil
The U.S. dollar index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of its peers, was at 91.24 after rising late last month from below 90.9.
The Japanese yen traded at 109.55 per dollar, weaker than levels below 108.5 against the greenback seen last week. The Australian dollar changed hands at $0.7728, following its tumble in late April from above $0.776.
Oil prices were lower in the afternoon of Asia trading hours, with international benchmark Brent crude futures slipping 0.57% to $66.38 per barrel. U.S. crude futures also shed 0.55% to $63.23 per barrel.
