On Thursday, the stock market of the Asia-Pacific region shows mixed dynamics, as investors continue to evaluate the comments and statements of the heads of central banks of the world on measures to combat rising inflation. In particular, the Japanese Nikkei 225 index fell by 0.94% to 26,324 points. South Korea's KOSPI fell 0.7% to 2.332.64. Australia's ASX 200 fell to 6.568.10 points. Hong Kong's Hang Seng, on the contrary, rose to 22.124. China's Shanghai Composite also shows growth – up to 3.398.62, and Shenzhen Component – up to 12,896.20 points. The head of the US Federal Reserve Jerome Powell and his colleagues from Europe and Britain during the annual forum of the European Central Bank (ECB) noted that inflation can be prolonged. And officials from other central banks have said that it is necessary to act decisively to curb price pressure. In particular, the head of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, Loretta Mester, noted that the Fed is only at the beginning of the rate hike cycle, and management would like the base rate on loans to reach 3-3.5% this year and slightly above 4% next. Even if it could drag the economy into recession. As for the Asia-Pacific region itself, China's factory activity increased there for the first time in 4 months, as restrictions were eased in major cities such as Shanghai due to COVID-19. As a result, the manufacturing business activity index (PMI) rose from 49.6 in May to 50.2 in June, which was its first increase since February.
