Asian shares mixed as China inflation slows

HONG KONG: Asian markets were mixed Thursday as Chinese inflation hit its lowest level in more than a year while an upbeat assessment of the US economy also gave some support.

However, a string of poor European figures clouded sentiment while on Wall Street the Dow provided an anaemic lead after hitting a five-month high on Wednesday.

Hong Kong rose 0.51 percent, Shanghai added 0.66 percent and Seoul 0.24 percent but Tokyo dropped 0.70 percent by the break and Sydney was 0.27 percent off.

The region's markets were lower in early trade but mostly rebounded after China released figures showing consumer prices rose 4.1 percent in December, a fifth straight month of easing and their slowest pace since September 2010.

The National Bureau of Statistics said the full-year rate came in at 5.4 percent -- well above the government's four percent target.

The figures provided authorities with enough room to further ease monetary policy, lifting hopes for better credit conditions in the country after more than a year of measures aimed at tackling soaring inflation.

"China's inflation numbers are mostly in line with expectations and show that inflation pressure continues to ease. Investors will continue to hope for moderate monetary loosening," Daniel So, strategist at SHK Financial, said.

Also providing some cheer was the US Federal Reserve's Beige Book report on economic conditions.

The report showed growth continued at a "modest to moderate pace", while improvement continued, particularly in a pickup in consumer spending, a main driver of the economy.

However, Wall Street was mixed, with the Dow ending 0.10 percent lower after hitting its highest level since July in the previous session. The tech-rich Nasdaq rose 0.31 percent and the S&P 500 was flat.

Europe continued to drag. Germany said its economy grew 3.0 percent last year but it was thrown into reverse in the final months by the eurozone turmoil, with an expected contraction of 0.25 percent in the fourth quarter.

Meanwhile Spain said it suffered a seven percent year-on-year drop in industrial output for November, while Britain said its trade deficit had widened more than expected.

Investors are now looking nervously ahead to bond auctions later in the day for debt-strapped Italy and Spain, while the European Central Bank is also due to hold an interest rate-setting meeting, with many hoping for another cut.

"Going into US reporting season, and ahead of our own reporting season, it's hard to find any catalysts or investors willing to stick their neck out, especially with Europe's sovereign debt crisis not going away.

"US economic data continue to show incremental improvement, but we're going to need to see Europe change tack before investors really back equities," Justin Gallagher, head of domestic sales trading and execution at RBS in Sydney, told Dow Jones Newswires.

The euro -- which late Wednesday fell to $1.2662, a new 16-month low -- bought $1.2719 in early Asian trade.

It also sat at 97.77 yen, compared with 97.70 yen, while the dollar was almost flat, trading at 76.83 yen.

On the oil markets, New York's main contract, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude for delivery in February gained 45 cents to $101.32 in morning trade.

Brent North Sea crude for February delivery was up 73 cents to $112.97. (AFP)