Asia-Pacific markets mostly climbed Thursday, after U.S. markets soared on the back of an unexpected decline in core inflation numbers in December and strong bank earnings. Korea’s central bank surprised market watchers by keeping benchmark rates unchanged at 3%. Economists polled by Reuters had expected the Bank of Korea to cut its policy rate by 25 basis points. South Korea’s Kospi was up 1.16% while the small-cap Kosdaq index was up 1.65%, following the announcement. The Korean won last weakened slightly to trade at 1,456.91 against the greenback. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 was trading up 0.27% while the Topix gained 0.09%. Japan’s annual producer price index climbed 3.8% in December, in line with expectations of economists polled by Reuters. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index jumped 0.57%, while mainland China’s CSI 300 fell 0.35%. Over in Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 was up 1.38%. The country’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for December rose slightly to 4% from November’s 3.9%, in line with estimates by economists polled by Reuters. BREAKING NEWS logo logo Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via Email Updated Thu, Jan 16 20251:03 AM EST Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via Email Asia-Pacific markets track Wall Street gains; South Korea unexpectedly keeps rates unchanged Lee Ying Shan Amala Balakrishner This is CNBC’s live blog covering Asia-Pacific markets. SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - 09 DECEMBER: People walk inside the Korea Exchange (KRX) building, as stock markets Asia as a whole have been affected by the intensifying political turmoil over president Yoon Suk Yeol's role in martial law, in Seoul, South Korea, on 9 December, 2024. The Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI), Hong Kong's Heng Sang, the Shanghai Composite index, as well as stocks in countries such as Australia, China, India and Thailand have seen a decline in their respective index amid the politic People walk inside the Korea Exchange (KRX) building, as stock markets in Asia as a whole have been affected by the intensifying political turmoil over president Yoon Suk Yeol’s role in martial law, in Seoul, South Korea, on Dec. 9, 2024. Daniel Ceng | Anadolu | Getty Images Asia-Pacific markets mostly climbed Thursday, after U.S. markets soared on the back of an unexpected decline in core inflation numbers in December and strong bank earnings. Korea’s central bank surprised market watchers by keeping benchmark rates unchanged at 3%. Economists polled by Reuters had expected the Bank of Korea to cut its policy rate by 25 basis points. South Korea’s Kospi was up 1.16% while the small-cap Kosdaq index was up 1.65%, following the announcement. The Korean won last weakened slightly to trade at 1,456.91 against the greenback. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 was trading up 0.27% while the Topix gained 0.09%. Japan’s annual producer price index climbed 3.8% in December, in line with expectations of economists polled by Reuters. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index jumped 0.57%, while mainland China’s CSI 300 fell 0.35%. Over in Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 was up 1.38%. The country’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for December rose slightly to 4% from November’s 3.9%, in line with estimates by economists polled by Reuters. TICKER COMPANY NAME PRICE CHANGE %CHANGE .N225 Nikkei 225 Index *NIKKEI 38470.26 25.68 0.07 .HSI Hang Seng Index *HSI 19438.55 152.48 0.79 .AXJO S&P/ASX 200 *ASX 200 8327 113.7 1.38 .SSEC Shanghai *SHANGHAI 3230.14 3.02 0.09 .KS11 KOSPI Index *KOSPI 2522.57 25.76 1.03 .FTFCNBCA CNBC 100 ASIA IDX *CNBC 100 9857.07 104.49 1.07 Overnight in the U.S., stocks saw significant gains with all three major averages recording their best day since Nov. 6. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 1.65%, while the S&P 500 gained 1.83%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite rallied 2.45%. Meanwhile, the benchmark 10-year Treasury yield dropped sharply at about 4.65% or around 13 basis points on the back of the CPI report. Oil prices rose following news of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire and hostage deal. Brent crude gained 3.22% while the WTI edged up 0.3% to settle at $80.28 per barrel. — CNBC’s Hakyung Kim and Lisa Kailai Han contributed to this report. BREAKING NEWS logo logo Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via Email Updated Thu, Jan 16 20251:03 AM EST Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via Email Asia-Pacific markets track Wall Street gains; South Korea unexpectedly keeps rates unchanged Lee Ying Shan Amala Balakrishner This is CNBC’s live blog covering Asia-Pacific markets. SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - 09 DECEMBER: People walk inside the Korea Exchange (KRX) building, as stock markets Asia as a whole have been affected by the intensifying political turmoil over president Yoon Suk Yeol's role in martial law, in Seoul, South Korea, on 9 December, 2024. The Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI), Hong Kong's Heng Sang, the Shanghai Composite index, as well as stocks in countries such as Australia, China, India and Thailand have seen a decline in their respective index amid the politic People walk inside the Korea Exchange (KRX) building, as stock markets in Asia as a whole have been affected by the intensifying political turmoil over president Yoon Suk Yeol’s role in martial law, in Seoul, South Korea, on Dec. 9, 2024. Daniel Ceng | Anadolu | Getty Images Asia-Pacific markets mostly climbed Thursday, after U.S. markets soared on the back of an unexpected decline in core inflation numbers in December and strong bank earnings. Korea’s central bank surprised market watchers by keeping benchmark rates unchanged at 3%. Economists polled by Reuters had expected the Bank of Korea to cut its policy rate by 25 basis points. South Korea’s Kospi was up 1.16% while the small-cap Kosdaq index was up 1.65%, following the announcement. The Korean won last weakened slightly to trade at 1,456.91 against the greenback. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 was trading up 0.27% while the Topix gained 0.09%. Japan’s annual producer price index climbed 3.8% in December, in line with expectations of economists polled by Reuters. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index jumped 0.57%, while mainland China’s CSI 300 fell 0.35%. Over in Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 was up 1.38%. The country’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for December rose slightly to 4% from November’s 3.9%, in line with estimates by economists polled by Reuters. TICKER COMPANY NAME PRICE CHANGE %CHANGE .N225 Nikkei 225 Index *NIKKEI 38470.26 25.68 0.07 .HSI Hang Seng Index *HSI 19438.55 152.48 0.79 .AXJO S&P/ASX 200 *ASX 200 8327 113.7 1.38 .SSEC Shanghai *SHANGHAI 3230.14 3.02 0.09 .KS11 KOSPI Index *KOSPI 2522.57 25.76 1.03 .FTFCNBCA CNBC 100 ASIA IDX *CNBC 100 9857.07 104.49 1.07 Overnight in the U.S., stocks saw significant gains with all three major averages recording their best day since Nov. 6. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 1.65%, while the S&P 500 gained 1.83%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite rallied 2.45%. Meanwhile, the benchmark 10-year Treasury yield dropped sharply at about 4.65% or around 13 basis points on the back of the CPI report. Oil prices rose following news of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire and hostage deal. Brent crude gained 3.22% while the WTI edged up 0.3% to settle at $80.28 per barrel. — CNBC’s Hakyung Kim and Lisa Kailai Han contributed to this report.