Bank of Korea Nominee Shin Hyun-song Signals Possible Rate Hike Amid Middle East Inflation Fears 
RBA Raises Interest Rates to 4.35% Amid Rising Inflation Risks and Middle East Tensions 
Fed’s Goolsbee Warns Inflation Remains Elevated, Signals Caution on Rate Cuts 
Eurozone Recession Risks Rise as Middle East Conflict Threatens Growth, ECB Official Warns 
Japan Inflation Expectations Rise as BOJ Rate Hike Timing Faces Uncertainty 
The Bank of Japan's decision on last Friday to adopt a negative interest rate policy came as huge surprise to global markets. Today benchmark Nikkei 225 index rallying 1.31% to 17,747.52 points while Tokyo's broader Topix gauge jumped 1.60% to 1,455.00 points.
Hong Kong's benchmark Hang Seng index slipped 0.05% to 19,672.43 points and mainland China's benchmark Shanghai Composite fell 0.41% to 2,726.34 points at the same time.
Korea's benchmark Kospi index jumped 0.62% to 1,923.84 points in Seoul.
Australian markets were largely upbeat, with the Australian S&P/ASX 200 index trading 0.91% higher at 5,051.10 points in Sydney.
New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index rose 0.27% to 6,187.00 points this afternoon in Wellington.
