Asia Equities Lower As Higher Yields Weigh On Markets, RBA Decision Shortly

Regional Asia Equities are lower today, as US yields pushed higher there has been slight pullback in Asia trading, while rate cut expectations have been pushed out.

• Japan Equities are trading lower in Asia trading as strong US ISM data and hawkish signals from the fed push rate cut expectations out further, higher yields have been weighing on equities prices, with the Nikkei lower by 0.63% while the Topix is 0.73%.
• Australia is lower today ahead of the RBA rate decision, it is widely expect rates will remain on hold at 4.35%. Earlier Q4 real retail sales numbers were released showing stronger than expected rising 0.3% q/q but Q3 was revised down 0.3pp to -0.1% and Q2 to -1.1%. Currently the ASX 200 is 0.57% lower, led by Miners and Tech stocks
• Taiwan semi conductor names should benefit from the bullish outlook of the US SIA forecast for this year.
• South Korea stocks are lower again today, further giving up gains it made last week as real money continue to take profit after last weeks gains. SK Financial Services Commission also laid out three goals for their capital market polices, with improving short-selling systems a major importance to recover investor trust. Currently the Kospi trades 0.51% lower.
• Elsewhere in SEA, higher US yields are weighing on equity performance with most countries trading lower.