Asian stock markets watch BOJ Governor Kuroda's latest meeting

Asian stock markets mixed as BOJ Governor Kuroda’s latest meeting looms Asia-Pacific stock markets were mixed on Thursday as the Bank of Japan began its two-day monetary policy meeting, with investors watching for any policy changes that may accompany BOJ Governor Haruhiko Kuroda’s latest meeting. In Japan, the Nikkei 225 rose 0.63 percent and the Topix rose 0.94 percent. The Kospi lost 0.15 percent and the Kosdaq lost 1.16 percent. In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.1 percent. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index was marginally higher in the first hour of trading. In mainland China, the Shanghai Composite rose 0.081 percent and the Shenzhen Composite lost 0.11 percent. China’s consumer price index rose 1 percent on the year, below expectations. Overnight in the U.S., major stock indexes were mixed as investors parsed stronger-than-expected economic data and raised concerns about bigger rate hikes following Fed Chair Jerome Powell's speech to Congress.