Stocks in Asia are mostly higher on reports of a delayed sales-tax increase
Markets in Asia finished the day mostly higher, even as
crude oil fell back below $50 per barrel. Traders are awaiting today's gross domestic product (GDP) data from the U.S., as well as comments from Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen. Japan's Nikkei ended up 0.4% despite a slip in the consumer price index (CPI), while reports again surfaced suggesting Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is
considering a two-year delay on a planned sales-tax increase.
Meanwhile, Hong Kong's Hang Seng added 0.9%, and South Korea's Kospi climbed 0.6%, while China's Shanghai Composite finished essentially flat.
European stocks are mostly lower at midday, as investors continue to eye oil prices and U.S. data. London's FTSE 100 was last seen just below breakeven, and France's CAC is down 0.1%, while the German DAX has added 0.2%.
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