The Asian markets concluded Thursday’s trade mostly in green, on upbeat Chinese trade data that suggested some signs of stabilization in the world's second-largest economy. China’s exports and imports rose marginally in April rebounding from sharp declines the month before amid a growth slowdown in the world’s second-largest economy. Exports crept up 0.9% year-on-year to $188.54 billion while imports increased 0.8% to $170.09 billion, resulting in a surplus of $18.45 billion. Indonesia’s current account deficit widened slightly in the first quarter of the year and will increase further in the second and third quarters because of seasonal factors. The central bank stated that the widest measure of the flow of goods, services and money in and out of the country posted a deficit of 2.06% of gross domestic product in the first quarter. That was marginally higher than the 1.98% deficit the previous quarter. Also, the central bank kept its key reference rate unchanged at 7.50%, as widely expected, with pressures over inflation and a widening current-account deficit easing.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 2015.27 | 5.19 | 0.26 |
Hang Seng | 21837.12 | 90.86 | 0.42 |
Jakarta Composite | 4860.89 | -1.18 | -0.02 |
KLSE Composite | 1862.84 | 2.41 | 0.13 |
Nikkei 225 | 14163.78 | 130.33 | 0.93 |
Straits Times | 3247.69 | 11.26 | 0.35 |
KOSPI Composite | 1950.60 | 10.72 | 0.55 |
Taiwan Weighted | 8930.90 | 37.68 | 0.42 |