Asian markets were trading mixed on Thursday as traders remained cautious and were reluctant to make more significant moves as they kept an eye on the escalating tensions between Ukraine and Russia. The People's Bank of China (PBoC) holding rates steady and the uncertainty about the US Fed's interest rate moves also rendered the mood cautious. The PBoC maintained its one-year loan prime rate at 3.10 percent. Likewise, the five-year LPR, the benchmark for mortgage rates, was retained at 3.60 percent. The bank had cut its both LPRs by 25 basis points each in October. The PBoC fixes the LPR monthly based on the submission of 18 designated banks. However, Beijing has influence over the fixing. The LPR replaced the traditional benchmark lending rate in August 2019.
Asian markets were trading mixed; Hang Seng declined 27.33 points or 0.14% to 19,677.68, Shanghai Composite weakened 3.35 points or 0.1% to 3,364.64, Nikkei 225 slipped 351.32 points or 0.92% to 38,001.02 and Taiwan Weighted lost 76.17 points or 0.34% to 22,612.19. However, Jakarta Composite gained 13.64 points or 0.19% to 7,193.98, KOSPI increased 11.84 points or 0.47% to 2,494.13, Straits Times rose 4.2 points or 0.11% to 3,747.84 and FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI rose 0.36 or 0.02% 1,598.54.