SINGAPORE — Stocks in Asia-Pacific were lackluster on Wednesday morning but shares in Australia advanced after the country released fourth-quarter GDP data that beat expectations.
The S&P/ASX 200 edged about 0.67% higher.
Australia’s gross domestic product rose 3.1% in seasonally adjusted chain volumes terms in the December quarter, according to figures released by the country’s Bureau of Statistics. That figure beat expectations for a 2.5% rise by economists in a Reuters poll and followed a 3.4% growth in the third quarter.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 and Topix index dipped fractionally. South Korea’s Kospi also hovered near the flatline.
MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan traded 0.2% higher.
Looking ahead, a private survey of services sector activity in China is set to be released, with the Caixin/Markit services Purchasing Managers’ Index for February expected at around 9:45 a.m. HK/SIN.
Wall Street overnight
Currencies
The U.S. dollar index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of its peers, was at 90.785 — off levels above 91 seen earlier in the week.
The Japanese yen traded at 106.73 per dollar, still weaker than levels below 105.7 against the greenback seen last week. The Australian dollar changed hands at $0.7831, following levels around $0.774 seen yesterday.
Here’s a look at what’s on tap:
- China: Caixin/Markit services Purchasing Managers’ Index at 9:45 a.m. HK/SIN
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— CNBC’s Kevin Breuninger contributed to this report.
Source: CNBC