Investors across the region were keeping their powder dry ahead of the release of the latest economic figures out of China and the US
There was an inconsistent theme to the region's equity markets on Monday amid US rates uncertainty and no clear messages from Beijing on new stimulus
Tokyo’s benchmark passed the 40,000 again before retreating at the close on a subdued day of trading with Shanghai and Hong Kong closed
Increasing doubts over a Fed U-turn on rates and a powerful earthquake that could impact on chip supply chains weighed on sentiment
Investors responded to contrasting cues on Tuesday with positive data and negative bets affecting the mood on trading floors
Global markets were subdued for the Easter break but Tokyo’s benchmark bourse still gained to cap a bumper fiscal year
Japan’s plunging currency and the threat of BoJ intervention sent Tokyo’s soaraway benchmark downwards
Japan’s currency slumped to a 34-year low on Wednesday while China’s yuan was also feeling the strain
Investors were distracted by China’s continuing economic struggles and looming US inflation figures
Traders are on edge this week ahead of US inflation data that could scupper hopes for lower interest rates sometime soon
China and Japan’s currencies were both under pressure on Friday, panicking investors and central banks across the region
The US Fed signalled it was ready to reverse on rates in the coming months, lifting sentiment across the region