Asia-Pacific Markets Experience Downturn

Following the release of unemployment data by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Asia-Pacific markets saw a decline. The unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.1% in April, signaling a steady but cautious economic outlook.

Market Performances Across the Region

South Korea's Kospi, Hong Kong's Hang Seng, and Australia's S&P/ASX 200 remained flat early Thursday. Meanwhile, Japan's Nikkei 225 experienced a significant drop of 1.16%. In mainland China, the Shanghai Composite and the Shenzhen Composite also faced losses, decreasing by 0.44% and 0.88%, respectively.

Currency Movements

The dollar weakened against the yen, trading 0.32% lower, with a selling price of 146.28600. This movement reflects the ongoing volatility in the currency markets amid global economic uncertainties.