Major stock markets in the Asia-Pacific region traded mixed in the afternoon session on Wednesday after the Bank of Japan (BoJ) decided to leave its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 0.5%. Investors also digested Japan's industrial production, which worsened in January, and the country's trade balance, which turned from a deficit in January to a ¥584.5 billion surplus in February.
Japan's Nikkei and Hong Kong's Hang Seng were both flat at 7:11 am CET, while South Korea's Kospi rose by 0.71% a minute later. Meanwhile, Australia's S&P/ASX 200 dropped by 0.41% at the closing bell. In mainland China, the Shanghai Composite slipped by 0.17% at 7:14 am CET, and the Shenzhen Composite declined by 0.46% at 7:15 am CET.
The dollar grew by 0.35% compared to the yen and sold for ¥149.7880 at 7:15 am CET.
