As investors and traders considered the latest developments in the Ukraine crisis and more hawkish statements from US Federal Reserve officials, Asian stocks dipped on Thursday (March 24), while the sell-off in US Treasuries stalled and oil prices increased.
The Nikkei 225 index of Japan started the morning session down 1.11 percent at 27,727.76, while it was off earlier lows of 1.48 percent, and was set to halt an eight-session winning streak.
South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI fell 0.66 percent to 2,716.87, sliding from a three-week high achieved the previous session, weighed down by inflation fears fueled by an increase in oil prices and the increasing Russia-Ukraine war. The Korean won dropped, as did the benchmark bond yield.
In morning trade, Hong Kong’s benchmark Hang Seng Index fell 0.44 percent to 22056.28 points.
