Asian markets ended mostly in red on Friday, with the regional benchmark indices paring its weekly advance. China’s stocks rose for a sixth day, capping the benchmark index’s biggest weekly gain in 19 months, amid speculation that that government is accelerating measures to support the economy and reverse a four-year slump in equities. Japan’s indices fell, reversing earlier gains, as investors awaited the release of US monthly employment data. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s administration gave its clearest signal yet of concern about damage to the economy from April sales-tax increase, with the finance minister saying that a back-up plan for stimulus will be prepared. Indonesia’s foreign exchange reserves rose to $111.2 billion by the end of August from $110.5 billion the previous month, fueled by strong oil and gas export revenue. This is the highest level of Indonesia’s foreign exchange reserves since December 2012. South Korean GDP rose to a seasonally adjusted 0.5%.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 2326.43 | 19.57 | 0.85 |
Hang Seng | 25240.15 | -57.77 | -0.23 |
Jakarta Composite | 5217.34 | 12.01 | 0.23 |
KLSE Composite | 1868.46 | -0.75 | -0.04 |
Nikkei 225 | 15668.68 | -7.50 | -0.05 |
Straits Times | 3341.73 | -4.61 | -0.14 |
KOSPI Composite | 2049.41 | -6.85 | -0.33 |
Taiwan Weighted | 9407.94 | -20.95 | -0.22 |