DHAKA: Asian markets have followed US and European markets’ lead and are trading mostly flat as investors remain cautious in the wake of the Brussels terror attacks.

Japan’s benchmark Nikkei and the broader Topix slipped 0.3% while Korea’s Kospi was about 0.13% lower.

Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.7% and New Zealand stocks are up 0.1%.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng opened about 0.2% lower and the Shanghai Composite fell 0.3%.

Alex Wijaya from CMC Markets said the Brussels blasts had made investors less willing to take a risk again.

He added the most affected currency was the pound which plunged from a high of £1.4397 to trade around £1.4220 this morning against the dollar.

‘The proponents of a Brexit claim that uncontrolled immigration in the EU raises the possibility of attacks in the future and background checks might provide some oversight,’ he said, reports the BBC.

‘Traders are concerned that this issue could sway voters to vote to leave the EU and the pound was sold down heavily yesterday.’

BDST: 1255 HRS, MAR 23, 2016
RR