Asia-Pacific Stocks Up as Market Sentiment Improves

On Friday, Asia-Pacific stocks mostly closed higher as market sentiment improved while investors assessed the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

In Japan, the benchmark Nikkei 225 extended 1.95% or 505.68 points to the 26,476.50 level.

At the top of the index, Advantest, a producer of semiconductor testing devices, hiked 7.71% or 5.72 points to $79.94 per share.

Then, transport company K Line soared 7.07% or 4.42 points to $66.93 per share.

Likewise, Dainippon Screen, a semiconductor company, elevated 6.01% or 5.38 points to $94.85 per share.

At the same time, the TOPIX index increased 1.00% or 18.66 points to the 1,876.24 level.

Subsequently, consulting firm Frontier Management rocketed 14.88% or 1.00 points to $7.70 per share.

Following the uptrend, travel agency business AirTrip boosted 10.16% or 2.37 points to $25.66 per share.

Consequently, CMK Corp, a producer of printed wiring boards, jumped 10.14% or 0.49 points to $5.37 per share.

Mainland Chinese shares also registered gains in the Asia-Pacific stocks.

The Shanghai Composite index grew 0.63% or 21.45 points to the 3,451.41 level.

Huadian, the largest power producer in China, surged 10.13% or 0.06 points to $0.69 per share.

Beijing Electric Zone also rose 10.07% or 0.07 points to $0.76 per share.

Correspondingly, Huaihe Energy advanced 10.06% or 0.06 points to $0.61 per share.

Moreover, the benchmark Shenzhen Component improved 1.21% or 160.68 points to the 13,412.92 level.

Its best performer is Guangzhou Wondfo Biotech, with 20.01% or 1.14 points to $6.82 per share.

Asia-Pacific Stocks; Hang Seng Down

Meanwhile, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng plummeted 0.59% or 134.38 points to the 22,767.18 level. The index significantly underperformed other Asia-Pacific stocks.

The Hang Seng China Enterprises index dipped 0.49% or 39.26 points to the 7,991.64 level.

Then, the HS Composite index tracking energy stocks declined 3.66% or 280.77 points to the 7,397.20 level.

The Chinese state oil giant CNOOC weighed down the sub-index dropped 3.16% or 0.04 points to $1.26 per share.

Elsewhere, South Korea’s KOSPI edged up 1.06% or 27.96 points to the 2,676.76 level.

Then, the Kosdaq Composite index jumped 2.92% or 24.77 points to the 872.98 level.

In Australia, the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 gained 0.10% or 7.20 points to the 6,997.80 level.

Overall, the MSCI broadest index of Asia-Pacific stocks outside Japan strengthened 0.78% or 4.64 points to the 593.53 level.