Asian stocks rose on Thursday after US inflation data came in ⁠as expected, dampening expectations of further near-term Federal Reserve rate hikes, while oil held near US$80 a barrel as Washington and Tehran remained deadlocked over efforts to end the Gulf war.

In Hong Kong, the benchmark Hang Seng Index opened down 152 points, or 0.6 percent, at 25,288.

The tech index was 13 points, or 0.29 percent, lower at 4,762 and the China enterprises index was 45 points, or 0.54 percent, down at 8,400.

Across the border, the Shanghai Composite Index opened up 10 points, or 0.27 percent, at 3,957.

The Shenzhen Component Index was 122 points, or 0.85 percent, up at 14,536 whle the ChiNext Index was 54 points, or 1.52 percent, higher at 3,656.

In Tokyo, the Nikkei opened up 509 points, or 0.75 percent, at 68,033 before doubling its gains at one point before lunch to be 1,064 points, or 1.58 percent, at 68,588.

In Seoul, the Kospi shot up 278 points, or 4.23 percent, to 6,857 at one stage before noon after opening strongly up 194 points, or 2.96 percent, to 6,773.

The gains came as US consumer prices increased 0.1 percent in July in line with expectations, with the small increase possibly weakening the argument for an interest rate increase from the Fed next month.

Money markets are predicting a 40 percent chance of a rate hike, down from 54 percent a week ⁠ago, according to CME Group's FedWatch.

With August CPI data due before next month's Federal Open Market ⁠Committee [FOMC] meeting and crude oil ⁠futures rising moderately since July, "both the Fed and markets will likely want to assess the data right up until just before the September FOMC," said Den Miki, senior rate strategist at SMBC Nikko ⁠Securities, in a note.

Oil prices eased but remained elevated in Asia. US crude fell ‌0.83 percent to US$82.58 a barrel and Brent fell to US$88.35 per barrel, down 0.71 percent on the day. (Reuters & Xinhua)



Edited by Wendy Wong