Asia-Pacific markets trade mixed as China keeps benchmark lending rates steady

Asia-Pacific markets trade mixed as China keeps benchmark lending rates steady


A Chinese flag flies high over The Bund.

Liu Liqun | Corbis Documentary | Getty Images

Asia-Pacific markets traded mixed Monday as China’s central bank held rates at a time when the yuan has come under pressure due to Beijing-Washington trade tensions.

Mainland China’s CSI 300 rose 0.38% after the People’s Bank of China kept its key loan prime rates unchanged at 3.10% for 1-year loan maturities and 3.60% for 5-year loan maturities, in line with the expectations of economists polled by Reuters.

India’s benchmark Nifty 50 advanced up 1.06% while the broader BSE Sensex added 1.11%.

Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 fell 1.08%, while the broader Topix index declined 1.04% in its final hour of trade.

In South Korea, the Kospi index moved up 0.14% in choppy trade while the small-cap Kosdaq fell 0.37% in its last hour.

Australian and Hong Kong markets were closed for the Easter holiday.

— CNBC’s Sean Conlon contributed to this report.



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