This is CNBC’s live blog covering Asia-Pacific markets.
Asia-Pacific markets climbed Friday, after the S&P 500 hit record highs overnight as U.S. President Donald Trump called for lower interest rates and cheaper oil prices.
The Bank of Japan raised policy rate by 25 basis points to 0.5% — the highest since 2008 and in line with economists’ expectations. Following the decision, the Japanese yen weakened marginally to trade at 155.18 against the dollar.
Earlier on Friday, Japan reported its core inflation rate rose to a 16-month high of 3% in December, year on year.
The country’s benchmark Nikkei 225 index rose 0.11%, while the Topix gained 0.18%.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index gained 2.06% while China’s CS1300 benchmark has advanced 0.83%
South Korea’s Kospi gained 0.58%, while the Kosdaq rose 0.87%.
Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 rose for a third straight week. The index ended the day up 0.36% at 8,408.9.
Singapore’s central bank eased its monetary policy in line with market expectations, given the rise in core inflation levels in December.
Overnight in the U.S., the S&P 500 added 0.53%, notching an all-time intraday high for the second straight session to finish the day at 6,118.71.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 408.34 points, or 0.92%, to 44,565.07, while the Nasdaq Composite rose 0.22% to 20,053.68. Thursday marked the fourth straight winning session for all three major indexes.
— CNBC’s Alex Harring and Jesse Pound contributed to this report.
LG Electronics shares rise 5% after mixed fourth-quarter results
Shares in South Korean electronics company LG Electronics gained as much as 4.97% on Friday, a day after its fourth-quarter operating profit rose 135.4 billion won from a year earlier.
The company, however, posted a net loss of 713.7 billion Won ($496.7 million) in the fourth-quarter.
LG Electronics attributed the losses to sluggish global demand, fluctuating exchange rates, and increased operational costs.
The gains in LG Electronics’ shares come after reports that several Korean firms were considering moving their production plants from Mexico to the U.S. following Trump’s protectionist policies.
— Amala Balakrishner
Singapore eases monetary policy for the first time since 2020
Singapore on Friday loosened its monetary policy for the first time since 2020, citing a faster than expected decline in inflation and warning about a growth slowdown.
The Monetary Authority of Singapore said it would slightly reduce the slope of its exchange rate policy band, known as the Singapore dollar nominal effective exchange rate, or S$NEER.
— Lim Hui Jie
Japan core inflation climbs to a 16-month high, boosting case for rate hikes
Japan’s core inflation rate rose to a 16-month high at 3% in December, year on year, boosting the case for a rate hike from the Bank of Japan.
This was in line with inflation expectations from economists polled by Reuters, and higher than the 2.7% growth in prices recorded in November.
The December reading means that core inflation in the country has matched or ran above the Bank of Japan’s 2% target for 33 months in a row. The core inflation reading strips out only prices of fresh food, but includes energy.
— Lim Hui Jie
Stocks finish higher
The three major indexes concluded Thursday’s session in the green.
The S&P 500 jumped 0.5%, notching an all-time closing high. The Dow rallied 0.9%, while the Nasdaq Composite ticked higher by 0.2%.
— Alex Harring
Energy sector lagging this week
The broader market is headed for solid week-to-date gains, but energy stocks are struggling.
The S&P 500 energy sector is down 2% this week, on pace for its worst weekly performance since the week that ended Dec. 20, when it shed more than 5%. The space is also on track to snap a four-week winning streak.
Halliburton is the worst-performing stock in the sector this week, losing more than 5%. Oneok and Hess were down about 4% during that time.
— Fred Imbert
Oracle heads for best week since December 2021
Oracle shares are up nearly 15% this week after President Trump announced a new joint venture with the company, Softbank and OpenAI to invest in artificial intelligence.
The stock is on pace for its best week since December 2021, when shares surged more than 16%. The stock is up 11% since the start of 2025.
— Samantha Subin
