Asian stock markets close lower except for India’s

By Aysu Bicer

ANKARA (AA) - Asian stock markets ended Friday lower except for India's Sensex index.

The Bank of Japan kept its ultra-low interest rates but raised its inflation forecast through 2024.

The bank, in line with market forecasts, held its key short-term interest rate unchanged at -0.1% and for 10-year bond yields around 0% at its October meeting.

Also, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s government approved an economic package that will involve state funding of about 29 trillion yen ($200 billion) in the fight against inflation.

With these developments, Japan's Nikkei 225 index closed at 27,105 points with a decrease of 0.9% while the dollar/yen parity is trading at 146.8 with an increase of 0.4%.

China's Shanghai composite index was down by 2.3% to 2,915 points, and South Korea's Kospi index depreciated by 0.9% to 2,268 points.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng index decreased by 3.9% to 14,824 points, while India's Sensex index rose by 0.2% to 59,854 points.