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Asian stocks ended mixed on Wednesday amid signs the Ukraine-Russia situation will not be de-escalating anytime soon.<\/p>\n
Russian President Vladimir Putin said peace talks with Ukraine are “at a dead end” and Russia would triumph in all of its “noble” war aims in Ukraine.<\/p>\n
U.S. President Joe Biden has called Russia’s invasion of Ukraine a “genocide,” a term his administration has been avoiding.<\/p>\n
Chinese shares fell notably despite the easing of a lockdown in Shanghai and the release of strong exports data. China’s exports rose an annual 15.7 percent in March, while imports came in flat amid disruptions due to coronavirus<\/span> outbreaks, data showed earlier today.<\/p>\n The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index dropped 0.8 percent to 3,186.82, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index finished 0.3 percent higher at 21,374.37.<\/p>\n Japanese shares rose the most in more than three weeks after core U.S. inflation data came in lower than expected. The Nikkei 225 Index surged 1.9 percent to 26,843.49 – marking the biggest jump since March 22.<\/p>\n Uniqlo clothing shop owner Fast Retailing jumped 2.9 percent, chipmaking equipment maker Tokyo Electron rallied 3.3 percent and air-conditioning maker Daikin Industries surged 4 percent.<\/p>\n Lawson soared 11.6 percent on reports the convenience store chain was planning an initial public offering for Seijo Ishii.<\/p>\n Investors shrugged off data showing that Japan’s core machinery orders fell for a second straight month in February.<\/p>\n Australian markets<\/span> eked out modest gains as rising commodity prices on the back of easing lockdowns in China helped lift mining and energy stocks. The benchmark S&P\/ASX 200 Index rose 0.3 percent to 7,479.<\/p>\n EML Payments surged 10.5 percent after the payment solutions provider said it had discussed a potential takeover by U.S. private equity firm Bain Capital earlier this year.<\/p>\n Travel firms Webjet and Flight Centre gained 2.5 percent and 2.3 percent, respectively, as New Zealand opened its borders to vaccinated travelers from Australia.<\/p>\n Seoul stocks rallied to snap a two-day losing streak as inflation woes eased and China lifted some of its virus restrictions in Shanghai. The Kospi jumped 1.9 percent to close at 2,716.49.<\/p>\n Battery maker LG Energy Solution soared 4.9 percent, while SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics rose 1.8 percent and 2.5 percent, respectively.<\/p>\n New Zealand shares fell slightly after the country’s central bank raised interest rates by a hefty 50 basis points to tame inflation. The hike from 1 percent to 1.5 percent was the biggest percentage increase by the Reserve Bank in 22 years. The benchmark NZX-50 Index ended 0.1 percent lower at 11,875.<\/p>\n U.S. stocks reversed early gains to end lower for a second straight session on Tuesday, as fresh data showed inflation accelerated to a new 40-year high in March, though some components of core inflation weakened.<\/p>\n All three major averages slipped around 0.3 percent, while two- and 10-year Treasury yields had their biggest declines in weeks amid speculation that the inflation surge that started in early 2021 is close to a peak.<\/p>\n U.S. consumer inflation rose 8.5 percent in March from a year ago, marking the fastest growth since December 1981. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n Business News<\/p>\n<\/div>\n