Most of the markets open for trading in Asia/Pacific region ended in negative territory. The Chinese Market is closed for Lunar New Year Holidays. Among the other markets, the markets in Australia and Japan managed to end in the green with modest gains on optimism about global economic recovery. However, the markets in Hong Kong, Indonesia, India, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan ended in negative territory with moderate losses.
In Australia, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 Index gained 21.90 points, or 0.45 percent and closed at 4,890.40 points, while the All-Ordinaries Index ended at 4,983.10 points,, representing a gain of 18.80 points, or 0.38 percent.
On the economic front, results of a survey released by the National Australia Bank revealed that business confidence bounced back during January in Australia. NAB's Business confidence index for January 2011 was plus-4, an improvement of seven points from the minus-3 reading in December. Business conditions, however, deteriorated. NAB's conditions index fell to minus-6, a drop of 12 points from the December reading of plus-six. NAB said the floods in Queensland and Victoria sent January business conditions sharply lower.
A report released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics revealed that the number of overseas visitor arrivals to Australia rose a seasonally adjusted 0.3% compared with a month earlier in December to 505,800. This followed an increase of 1.1% in November and a decrease of 2.1% in October. Overseas visitors made a record 5.9 million short-term trips to Australia in 2010, up from the 5.6 million movements recorded during both 2008 and 2009.
Light sweet crude oil futures for March delivery was trading at $87.52 a barrel in electronic trading, up $0.04 per barrel from previous close at $87.48 a barrel in New York on Monday.
Banking stocks ended in positive territory following release of the quarterly results from the major commercial banks. ANZ Bank gained 0.74 percent, Commonwealth Bank of Australia advanced 0.84 percent, National Australia Bank climbed 1.92 percent and Westpac Banking Corp. was higher by 1.11 percent. Investment banking company Macquarie Group, however, ended in the red with a loss of 0.32 percent after the company stated that its second half results will be down five percent on subdued equity volumes.
Retail stocks continued to remain soft for the second successive day on weaker retail sales data.
In Japan, the benchmark Nikkei 225 Index finished 43.94 points, or 0.41 percent higher to 10,635.98 while the broader Topix index of first section issues added 3.57 points, or 0.38 percent, to close at 944.00.
On the economic front, a report released by Japan's Ministry of Finance revealed that the country posted a current account surplus of 1.195 trillion yen in December, jumping 30.5 percent on year. That beat expectations for a 24.2 percent annual increase to 1.13 trillion yen following the 15.7 percent annual contraction in November to 926.2 billion yen. The adjusted current account surplus came in at 1.555 trillion yen, up from the 1.530 trillion yen surplus in the previous month. The trade balance missed expectations with a 23.2 percent increase on year to 768.8 billion yen. Analysts had expected a surplus of 779.7 billion yen following the 259.7 billion yen surplus a month earlier, which represented a 46.6 percent annual contraction.
A report released by Bank of Japan revealed that M3 money stock in the country was up 2.3 percent on year in January, coming in at 784.5 trillion yen. That matched expectations for a 2.3 percent increase, and also the rate of growth in December. The Bank of further noted that M3 money stock rose 1.8 percent to 1,085.3 trillion yen - again matching both the forecast and the previous rate of gain
Insurance related stocks led the list of gainers in the market. T&D Holdings surged up 3.57 percent, Tokio Marine Holdings climbed 3.15 percent. MS & AD Insurance Holdings advanced 2.55 percent and NKSJ Holdings was up by 3.15 percent.
Real estate related stocks also ended in positive territory. Mitsubishi Estate climbed 2.06 percent, Mitsui Fudosan advanced 0.12 percent and Tokyu Land Corp. was up 0.23 percent. Heiwa Real Estate remained unchanged from previous close.
Among the other major markets, the Chinese market was closed for public holiday for Lunar New Year celebrations.
In Hong Kong, the benchmark HangSeng Index ended in the negative territory with a loss of 69.290 points, or 0.29% at 23,484.30.
In Indonesia, the benchmark Jakarta Composite Index ended at 3459.93, down 27.77 points, or 0.80% from previous close.
In Singapore, the Strait Times Index ended in the negative territory with a loss of 6.82 points, or 0.21% at 3,185.36.
In South Korea, the benchmark KOSPI Index ended in negative territory with a minor loss of 12.04 points, or 0.58%, at 2,069.70.
In Taiwan, the benchmark Taiwan Weighted Index ended at 9,111.46, down 33.89 points, or 0.37% from previous close.
In India, the benchmark BSE Sensex ended in the red with a loss of 261.49 points, at 17,775.70, while the broader Nifty index ended at 5312.55, down 83.45 points.
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June 12, 2026 17:14 ET Major central bank action was the focus this week in economic news. The European Central Bank became the first major central bank to move in response to the rising inflationary pressures in the backdrop of the conflict in the Middle East. In North America, the U.S. inflation and trade data as well as Canada’s central bank decision gained attention. The Chinese trade data was the main news in Asia.