Asian Shares Up In Very Thin Holiday Trading

Shares rose Monday, Dec. 26, 2022, in Asia in thin post-Christmas holiday trading, with markets in Hong Kong, Sydney and several other places closed, Elaine Kurtenbach reported for the Associated Press (AP).

Photo Insert: Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 index gained 0.6% to 26,393.32 and the Kospi in Seoul added 0.2% to 2,318.54. The Shanghai Composite index rose 0.5% to 3,061.93 and the SET in Bangkok added 0.6%.

Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 index gained 0.6% to 26,393.32 and the Kospi in Seoul added 0.2% to 2,318.54. The Shanghai Composite index rose 0.5% to 3,061.93 and the SET in Bangkok added 0.6%.

On Friday, the S&P 500 reversed a 0.7% loss to close 0.6% higher, at 3,844.82. With one week left of trading in 2022, the benchmark index is down 19.3% for the year. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.5% to 33,203.93, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq edged 0.2% higher, to 10,497.86. Small company stocks also rose.

The Russell 2000 index picked up 0.4% to 1,760.93. In currency dealings, the US dollar slipped to 132.62 Japanese yen from 132.82 yen late Friday. The euro rose to $1.0629 from $1.0614.

The Fed has said it will keep raising interest rates to tame inflation, even though the pace of price increases has continued to ease.

The Fed’s key overnight rate is at its highest level in 15 years, after beginning the year at a record low of roughly zero. The key lending rate, the federal funds rate, stands at a range of 4.25% to 4.5%, and Fed policymakers have forecast that the rate will reach a range of 5% to 5.25% by the end of 2023.

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