Asian markets ended mostly in green on Friday. Though there were no overnight cues from the US, the Japanese stock markets rose sharply, as a weaker yen boosted exporter shares. The investors also digested a flurry of economic data painting a mixed picture of the world's third-largest economy. The Japanese industrial output unexpectedly rose for the second straight month in October, the jobless rate fell and inflation fell a less than expected 4% in the month, while retail sales fell more than forecast and the annual core consumer inflation slowed for a third straight month due to falling oil prices, underscoring the challenges facing Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, as he tries to overcome deflation and boost growth in the world's third-largest economy. The Chinese market increased amid optimism lower crude prices will benefit transport companies and the central bank will continue to ease policy. The Chinese market was up on hopes that People’s Bank of China may trim reserve ratios after unexpectedly lowering lending rates last week.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 2,682.83 | 52.35 | 1.99 |
Hang Seng | 23,987.45 | -16.83 | -0.07 |
Jakarta Composite | 5,149.89 | 4.57 | 0.09 |
KLSE Composite | 1,820.89 | -9.02 | -0.49 |
Nikkei 225 | 17,459.85 | 211.35 | 1.23 |
Straits Times | 3,350.50 | 9.54 | 0.29 |
KOSPI Composite | 1,980.78 | -1.31 | -0.07 |
Taiwan Weighted | 9,187.15 | 21.84 | 0.24 |