The Bank of Japan (BOJ) headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, on Monday, April 25, 2022.
Toru Hanai | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Hong Kong stocks led losses as shares in the Asia-Pacific fell as the Bank of Japan’s left its benchmark interest rate unchanged.
The Hang Seng index in Hong Kong lost 2.32%, with the Hang Seng Tech index sliding 3.57%. In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.93%.
The Nikkei 225 in Japan fell 0.6%, while the Topix was fractionally lower. The Japanese yen was trading at 146-levels, stronger than levels seen last week before an intervention reportedly took place.
The Bank of Japan kept rates at ultra-low levels, in line with expectations in a Reuters poll.
South Korea’s Kospi was 0.53% lower. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan fell 1.1%.
In mainland China, the Shanghai Composite was 0.83% lower and the Shenzhen Component shed 1.62%.
Some Chinese airlines listed in Hong Kong will report earnings, along with electric vehicle maker BYD. South Korea’s LG Electronics is also scheduled to report earnings.
Overnight in the U.S., the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 194.17 points, or 0.6%, to end at 32,033.28 in its fifth straight positive session. The S&P 500 closed 0.6% lower at 3,807.30, and the Nasdaq Composite lost 1.6% to 10,792.68.
Read More: Hong Kong stocks lead losses in Asia-Pacific; Bank of Japan keeps rates unchanged