Asian markets ended mixed on Wednesday, with China’s stocks rising, sending the benchmark index to its biggest gain in about seven weeks, as a jump in new trading accounts lifted brokerages and defense companies rallied on speculation of increased state spending. Japanese manufacturing activity eased slightly in September but output rose at the fastest pace in six months suggesting industrial production is stabilizing after a sharp slump in demand following a sales tax increase in April. Japan’s Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) fell to a seasonally adjusted 51.7 in September from a final reading of 52.2 in August. The output component of the flash PMI index rose to 53.4 from a final 52.9 in August to reach the highest level in six months. Indonesia’s Finance Minister M. Chatib Basri stated that the government seeks to trim the state’s budget deficit and seeks more financing from domestic sources to shield the country from financial instability that may come as a result of rising interest rates in the US.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 2343.58 | 33.86 | 1.47 |
Hang Seng | 23921.61 | 84.54 | 0.35 |
Jakarta Composite | 5174.01 | -14.11 | -0.27 |
KLSE Composite | 1840.08 | -0.11 | -0.01 |
Nikkei 225 | -16167.45 | -38.45 | -0.24 |
Straits Times | 3292.81 | -5.28 | -0.16 |
KOSPI Composite | 2035.64 | 6.73 | 0.33 |
Taiwan Weighted | 9098.49 | 13.59 | 0.15 |