Major Asian stock markets traded mostly higher during Thursday's early session, as investors digested the latest economic developments in the region and awaited major data from the United States coming later today.
In a report published earlier today, the Bank of Japan reiterated its stance toward maintaining the loose monetary policy in order to bring inflation to the target 2% range "in a sustainable manner." Meanwhile, South Korea's central bank said the country's economy dipped in the last quarter of 2022 for the first time in two and a half years.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng opened 1.56% or 344 points higher after a five-day weekend, while South Korea's Kospi Composite gained 0.58%. On the other hand, Japan's Nikkei 225 slipped 0.16%. Markets in mainland China and Australia were closed for the holidays. At the same time, the dollar declined 0.21% against the yen to sell for 129.3420.