The Asian equity benchmarks ended mostly lower on Monday, while Shanghai Composite Index topped 3,000 for the first time since 2011 as brokerages surged on bets the rally will continue. China’s imports shrank unexpectedly in November while export growth slowed, fuelling concerns the world’s second-largest economy could be facing a sharper slowdown and adding pressure on policymakers to ramp up stimulus measures. Exports rose 4.7% from a year earlier, while imports dropped 6.7%, the biggest drop since March. Japan’s GDP fell to a seasonally adjusted -0.5%, from -0.4% in the preceding quarter. Japan’s Economy Watchers Current Index fell to a seasonally adjusted 41.5, from 44.0 in the preceding month. Japan’s Current Account rose to a seasonally adjusted 0.95T, from 0.41T in the preceding month. Taiwan’s trade balance fell more-than-expected last month. The Ministry of Finance Taiwan stated that the country’s Trade Balance fell to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.22B, from 4.62B in the preceding month.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,020.26 | 82.61 | 2.81 |
Hang Seng | 24,047.67 | 45.03 | 0.19 |
Jakarta Composite | 5,144.01 | -43.98 | -0.85 |
KLSE Composite | 1,740.84 | -8.53 | -0.49 |
Nikkei 225 | 17,935.64 | 15.19 | 0.08 |
Straits Times | 3,297.84 | -26.55 | -0.80 |
KOSPI Composite | 1,978.95 | -7.67 | -0.39 |
Taiwan Weighted | 9,187.29 | -19.28 | -0.21 |