Asian markets ended in green on Friday, with Japanese Nikkei 225 closing at its highest level since November 2007, as exporters advanced after the yen weakened past 109 per dollar for the first time since 2008. Asian currencies dropped for a third week, the longest run of losses since January, as the prospect of higher US interest rates dims the appeal of emerging-market assets. Indonesia’s rupiah and Malaysia’s ringgit led the declines. Japan’s government cut its overall economic assessment for the first time in five months as private consumption is struggling to recover from the slump caused by April’s sales tax hike, clouding the outlook for a sustained recovery. The government cut its view on private consumption, which accounts for about 60 percent of the economy, saying that consumer spending is seen pausing although a pick-up trend remains intact. Japan’s All Industries Activity Index fell to a seasonally adjusted -0.2%.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 2329.45 | 13.52 | 0.58 |
Hang Seng | 24306.16 | 137.44 | 0.57 |
Jakarta Composite | 5227.58 | 19.44 | 0.37 |
KLSE Composite | 1849.49 | 4.17 | 0.23 |
Nikkei 225 | 16321.17 | 253.60 | 1.58 |
Straits Times | 3305.05 | 7.76 | 0.24 |
KOSPI Composite | 2053.82 | 6.08 | 0.30 |
Taiwan Weighted | 9240.45 | 3.42 | 0.04 |