Asian Stocks Fluctuate Near Seven-Year High; Energy Shares Drop

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Asian stocks fluctuated, with the benchmark index trading near its highest level since 2008. Health-care companies gained and energy explorers fell.

The MSCI Asia Pacific Index slipped 0.1 percent to 150.96 as of 9:18 a.m. in Tokyo. The regional benchmark index climbed yesterday to its highest since June 2008 as Chinese shares listed in Hong Kong surged. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose 0.3 percent after the minutes of the March 17-18 Federal Open Market Committee meeting signaled policy makers were split on raising U.S. interest rates in June.

Japan’s Topix index was little changed. South Korea’s Kospi index rose 0.2 percent. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 Index and New Zealand’s NZX 50 Index were little changed. Markets in China and Hong Kong have yet to open.

The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index, also called the H-share index, of mainland shares traded in Hong Kong on Wednesday surged 5.8 percent to its highest since April 2011.

Source : Bloomberg