Asian stocks ended mixed on Thursday, with Japanese and South Korean markets reaching fresh records on signs of easing geopolitical tensions and investor enthusiasm for artificial intelligence.
A cautious undertone prevailed elsewhere across the region after the U.S. Federal Reserve hinted at a possible interest rate hike this year.
The dollar rallied in Asian trading on the back of hawkish Fed bets and upbeat retail sales and housing data released overnight.
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Market Analysis
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.