Asian stock indices are trading mixed. The Australian S&P/ASX 200 index and the Korean KOSPI added 1.14% and 0.35% respectively. Japan's Nikkei 225 gained 0.02%. Other indicators declined. The Chinese Shanghai Composite and Shenzhen Composite indices fell by 0.23% and 0.13% respectively. The Hang Seng Index of Hong Kong lost 1.14%.
The latest data on US inflation is an important report for traders. According to experts' forecasts, this indicator is expected to decrease to 6.5% from the November level of 7.1%. Such significant fluctuations in consumer prices cause strong volatility in the stock market.
Investors expect that a gradual slowdown in inflation may help ease monetary policy in the US. Some even suggest that the US regulator may decrease interest rates if there are signs of a recession in the economy.
Meanwhile, soaring inflation in China in December to 1.8% from the November level of 1.6% made investors worry. At the same time, the growth of this indicator was expected.
China's producer price index fell by 0.7% year on year in December. This is already the third decrease in this index within three months. At the same time, the index was worse than economists' forecasts, projecting a contraction by 0.1%.
Meanwhile, Chinese energy and consumer sectors' stocks increased. For example, BYD gained 4.4%, Eve Energy added 3.6%, Longi Green Energy soared by 2.2%, and Contemporary Amperex jumped by 1.7%.
Alibaba shares showed less significant growth, rising by 0.1%, while Li Auto fell by 0.2%.
Among the components of the Japanese Nikkei 225 index, Mitsubishi UFJ rose by 1.9%, Tokyo Electron added 1%, and Sony Group gained 0.8%.
At the same time, other companies in the country declined. Nintendo and Nippon Yusen fell by 1.7% each, and Fast Retailing lost 1.6%.
Korea's KOSPI index was boosted by the growth of the country's largest companies. Hyundai Motor increased by 2.1% and Samsung Electronics gained 0.3%.
Among Australian companies, the leaders of the growth were representatives of the banking sector. Commonwealth Bank and Macquarie Group increased by 1.6% and ANZ Group added 1%. Fortescue Metals rose by 2.8%, Woodside Energy added 2.1%, and BHP Group soared by 1.8%.
Meanwhile, Gold Road Resources is down 3% as last quarter's gold production fell short of market expectations.
