Asian markets posted mixed performances on Thursday amid light holiday trading, with many exchanges across the region and around the world closed for Christmas, reports AP.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 slipped less than 0.1% to 50,317.43, though it remains up nearly 30% for the year. Currency moves were modest, with the U.S. dollar easing to 155.70 yen from 155.94, while the euro was steady at $1.1780.
Mainland Chinese markets advanced, with the Shanghai Composite rising 0.3%. Investor sentiment was supported by the People’s Bank of China’s pledge to maintain ample liquidity to support financing conditions, economic growth, and inflation targets. Hong Kong markets were closed, while shares in Thailand and Indonesia declined.
Overnight on Wall Street, major U.S. indexes closed at record highs. The S&P 500 rose 0.3% to 6,932.05, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.6% to 48,731.16, and the Nasdaq Composite added 0.2% to 23,613.31.
Trading volumes were thin ahead of the Christmas holiday. About 1.8 billion shares traded on the New York Stock Exchange, roughly one-third of an average session. Full trading resumes Friday, though activity is expected to remain subdued as investors wrap up positions for the year.
The S&P 500 has climbed more than 17% in 2025, buoyed by optimism over deregulation, strong corporate earnings, and expectations that artificial intelligence will continue to drive growth across the technology sector and broader economy.
Investors are also monitoring U.S. economic data and the Federal Reserve’s policy outlook, with interest rates widely expected to remain unchanged at the central bank’s January meeting. Recent data showed the U.S. economy expanded at a 4.3% annualized pace in the third quarter, the fastest in two years, driven by resilient consumer spending. Weekly jobless claims fell to 214,000, signaling continued strength in the labor market.
In corporate news, Dynavax Technologies surged 38.2% after Sanofi announced a $2.2 billion acquisition of the biotech firm. Shares of Novo Nordisk rose 1.8% following U.S. approval of a pill version of its weight-loss drug Wegovy.
Oil prices were steady, with U.S. crude settling at $58.35 a barrel and Brent crude closing at $61.80.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
