TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares mostly declined Thursday as investors awaited a flood of global earnings reports, including updates from U.S. tech companies known as the “Magnificent Seven.”
Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 slid 2.1% to 37,670.50. South Korea’s Kospi dropped 1.4% to 2,637.18. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng gained nearly 0.1% to 17,215.51, while the Shanghai Composite was virtually unchanged at 3,044.41.
Trading was closed in Australia for a national holiday, Anzac Day.
Attention is also turning to the Bank of Japan, whose two-day monetary policy meeting started Thursday.
“For the record, heading into tomorrow’s policy decision, exceptional Japanese yen weakness is the agitated elephant in the room for the BOJ,” Tan Jing Yi of Mizuho Bank said in a commentary.
In currency trading, the U.S. dollar rose to 155.67 Japanese yen from 155.31 yen. The euro cost $1.0715, up from $1.0697.
Alec Marsh and 4 relievers combined for a 6
Chinese Woman Reaches Peak of Neuroscience Research
Testimony begins in lawsuit accusing Japanese police of racial profiling
Film on Heroine Set to Be Released
Contreras has 3 hits as Brewers take advantage of sloppy inning by Pirates in 3
Yang Xiaoyu: Boosting Museum's Role in Promoting China's Fine Traditional Culture
Establishing China's First Private Restaurant
Liu Ying Conducts Scientific Research Like Running Marathon
Penn State's leading receiver KeAndre Lambert
Zhang Guimei: Helping Impoverished Girls Improve Education, Changing Their Fates
Louisiana dolphin shot dead; found along Cameron Parish coast
Junior of Revolutionaries Inherits, Promotes Family's 'Red Gene'