Stocks in the Asian region were seen trading lower on the first day of the trading week as investors weighed corporate earnings and the escalating tension between Russia and Ukraine continues and raises fears.
Stocks – Asia
In Japan, the nation reported an upbeat Retail sales, coming in higher than expected for March. Reports released showed that the sales climbed 11% higher year-on-year in March, compared to 3.6% seen in the previous month and exceeding analysts’ forecast of a 10.8% rise.
Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 index was at 0.98% to close at 14,288.23 points, while Tokyo’s broader Topix index edged 0.79% lower at 1,160.74 points. Nippon Electric Glass saw the most losses on the Nikkei index, as it lost 6.72% while Okuma climbed 8.24% higher.
China’s benchmark Shanghai Composite fell 0.21% lower to 2,032.15, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index lost 0.25% to 22,169.00 points at the time of writing. Sands China slid by 3%, while Swire Pacific gained 2.10%.
Ukraine
The US and European Union warned Russia with further sanctions against the country as the crises in Ukraine escalates over the weekend.
Further sanctions targeted at forcing Russia to pull out their military forces from the Ukraine, is expected to begin from Monday, according to a senior US administration official.
“The Ukrainian tensions are once again mounting and the word coming from Capitol Hill and also Europe is that sanctions on Russian officials will be harder, more direct and onerous on President Putin’s inner circle; this will disrupt normal trading conditions,” a Melbourne-based market strategist at IG Evan Lucas wrote in a note.
Stocks – Europe
Stocks in Europe were mostly trading higher on Monday while investors focus on some important economic reports in the upcoming weeks.
The Euro Stoxx 50 climbed 0.51% higher to 3,164.50 at the time of writing, while the German DAX gained 0.48% to 9,453.80. At the same time, the French CAC 40 rose 0.57% to 4,470, while the UK benchmark FTSE 100 added 0.45% to 6,714.30.
Swedbank post a rise of 12% in its first-quarter net profit, supported by the high demand in its housing sector, while the Swiss cement-maker Holcim reported its first quarter profit dropped by 57% to 80 million francs, as the revenue fell by 5.3%
Investors will be awaiting a string of economic reports in the upcoming weeks, including the eurozone consumer price inflation for April and gross domestic product data for the first quarter from Spain and the UK later in the week.
Stocks – Australia
In Sydney, the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index came in 0.02% lower at 5,5529.90 points.
Australia’s drug delivery company Acrux slid by over 30%, while the food manufacturer Goodman Fielder rallied 18.20%.
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