The Asian markets concluded Friday’s trade mostly in red, with investors treading cautiously ahead of the release of crucial US monthly non-farm payrolls data later in the day. Asian currencies strengthened this week, led by the won advance to a five-year high, as data signaled a continued recovery in the region’s economies and on bets US borrowing costs will remain low. A HSBC Markit purchasing manager’s index survey showed that Indonesian manufacturing activity expanded at the fastest pace in 11 months in April, bolstered by rising demand and better economic conditions. The index rose to 51.1 last month from 50.1 in March. Indonesia’s inflation slowed in April, supported by stable food prices that gave room for the central bank to keep borrowing costs steady. Inflation fell to a seasonally adjusted 7.25%, from 7.32% in the preceding month. Indonesian Trade Balance fell to a seasonally adjusted 0.67B, from 0.79B in the preceding month.
Japanese Household Spending rose to a seasonally adjusted 7.2%, from -2.5% in the preceding month. Japan’s Monetary Base fell to 48.5%, from 54.8% in the preceding month. The percentage of the total work force that is unemployed and actively seeking employment in Japan during the previous month remained unchanged at a seasonally adjusted 3.6%, from 3.6% in the preceding month. Hong Kong Retail Sales rose to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of -1.3%, from -2.3% in the preceding month.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | |||
Hang Seng | 22260.67 | 126.70 | 0.57 |
Jakarta Composite | 4838.76 | -1.39 | -0.03 |
KLSE Composite | 1869.08 | -2.44 | -0.13 |
Nikkei 225 | 14457.51 | -27.62 | -0.19 |
Straits Times | 3252.55 | -12.16 | -0.37 |
KOSPI Composite | 1959.44 | -2.35 | -0.12 |
Taiwan Weighted | 8867.32 | 75.88 | 0.86 |