Russia-Ukraine crisis, China’s benchmark lending rate
SINGAPORE – Shares in Asia-Pacific fell in Monday’s trading session, as investors continued to monitor the situation surrounding Ukraine. In economic data, China did not change its benchmark lending rate.
The Nikkei 225 in Japan fell marginally 2% in morning trading before recouping some of those losses, last falling 0.75% while the Topix index fell 0.68%. South Korea Kospi down 0.37%.
In mainland China, Shanghai composite down 0.34% while Shenzhen Ingredients slip 0.169%. From Hong Kong Hang Seng Index down 0.56%.
On Monday, China kept its benchmark lending rate steady, with the one-year lending prime rate (LPR) unchanged at 3.7%. That matches the predictions of all 24 financial institutions in a quick Reuters poll.
The 5-year LPR was also left unchanged at 4.6%.
of Australia S&P / ASX 200 hovering a fraction higher.
MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan traded 0.37% lower.
Investor sentiment in the region may have improved after the US President Joe Biden accepted “in principle” a meeting with the President of Russia Vladimir Putin if Moscow hadn’t invaded Ukraine.
Concerns about a potential Russian invasion of Ukraine have interested investors, with Biden said Friday The US believes Putin has decided to launch an attack on Ukraine “in the coming days.”
Markets in the US are closed on Monday for a holiday.
Currency
The US Dollar Indextracks the greenback against its basket of currencies, at 95.889 after seeing an earlier high of 96.151.
The Japanese yen was trading at 114.96 USD/USD after rallying around 114.8 against the greenback late last week. The Australian dollar at $0.7196 from the previous low of $0.7159.
Oil prices are lower in the morning Asian trading hours, by international benchmarks Brent Crude Oil Futures down 0.96% to $92.64 per barrel. US crude oil futures down 0.57% to $90.55 per barrel.