Asia markets inch higher as investors await Bank of Korea meet, slew of inflation data this week

Asia-Pacific markets started the week with modest gains as investors looked ahead to upcoming economic data and events. Australia, Japan, and China are set to release inflation and trade balance figures. The Bank of Korea will hold its first central bank meeting of the year and is expected to maintain interest rates at 3.50%. In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 opened slightly higher, while futures for Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index indicated a slightly higher open. Japan’s markets were closed for a public holiday, and South Korea’s Kospi opened higher while the Kosdaq dipped slightly. In the US, all major indexes gained after a stronger-than-expected jobs report. Nonfarm payrolls grew by 216,000 in December, beating expectations, and the unemployment rate remained at 3.7%. Treasury yields rose as a result of the report.