Everything you need to know before trading on August 22

Markets in the Asia-Pacific region rose on Thursday on overnight gains in U.S. stocks, as investors in the region await the Korean central bank’s monetary policy decision.

The Nikkei 225 was trading 278.02 points or 0.73% higher at 38,229.82 at 06:21 a.m.

At 06:22 the Kospi was 3.73 points or 0.14% higher at 2,704.86.

U.S. stocks rose after minutes from the Federal Reserve’s July meeting showed some policymakers acknowledged the need for a rate cut. On Wednesday, the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 0.42% and 0.14% higher, respectively. The Nasdaq Composite Index closed 0.53% higher.

Brent oil traded 0.07% lower at USD 76.00 per barrel. Gold rose 0.04% to USD 2,513.52 per ounce (as of 06:28)

The GIFT Nifty was trading 56 points or 0.23% higher at 24,871.50 at 06:31 am.

India’s benchmark indices ended Wednesday’s choppy session on a positive note, with the NSE Nifty 50 snapping a five-day winning streak as ITC Ltd. and Bharti Airtel Ltd. gained.

The NSE Nifty 50 closed 71.35 points or 0.29% higher at 24,770.20 and the S&P BSE Sensex closed 102.44 points or 0.13% higher at 80,905.30.

Foreign investors did not sell Indian stocks for the third consecutive day on Wednesday. Foreign portfolio investors sold shares worth Rs 799.9 million, while domestic investors also did not buy shares in the 13th session, buying shares worth Rs 3,097.5 million, provisional data from the National Stock Exchange showed.

The Indian currency loses 14 paise to close at 83.93 against the US dollar.