Stocks in Asia-Pacific were higher on Tuesday as the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) kept its current policy settings on hold.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 gained 121.59 points, or 0.5%, to 23,433.73, as shares of conglomerate Softbank Group jumped 2.41%.
The Japanese yen changed hands at 105.55 per dollar after weakening from levels below 105.6 yesterday.
The Hang Seng Index leaped 212.87 points, or 0.9%, to 23,767.78,
Australia’s balance on goods and services declined 43% from July to August on a seasonally adjusted basis, according to trade data released Tuesday by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
In a statement announcing the central bank’s monetary policy decision, RBA Governor Philip Lowe said: "The Board continues to consider how additional monetary easing could support jobs as the economy opens up further."
Meanwhile, shares of gold firms Northern Star Resources and Saracen Mineral Holdings in Australia surged 10.6% and 9.6%, respectively. The sharp gains came after the two announced a 16-billion Australian dollar ($11.5-billion U.S.) merger.
The Australian dollar changed hands at $0.7152 following the RBA’s monetary policy decision, after seeing an earlier high around $0.72.
In other markets
Markets in mainland China remained shuttered for holiday.
In Singapore, the Straits Times Index added 12.03 points, or 0.5%, to 2,529.26.
In Korea, the Kospi inched higher 7.9 points, or 0.3%, to 2,365.90.
In Taiwan, the Taiex index climbed 155.95 points, or 1.2%, to 12,704.23.
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 marched ahead 76.76 points, or 0.7%, to 11,975.02.
In Australia, the ASX 200 finished in the green 20.49 points, or 0.3%, to 5,962.07.
