The Asian equity benchmarks ended mostly in green on Wednesday, with China’s benchmark stock index rose to a four-year high amid speculation the government will loosen monetary policy and ease capital requirements that may allow brokerages to boost margin lending. Japan’s exports grew for a third straight month in November from a year earlier, but much more slowly than expected and despite a sharp fall in the yen as slowing demand in Asia and Europe dampened trade. The 4.9 percent rise in exports was much weaker slowing from a 9.6 percent gain in October. Weakness in exports could compound April’s sales tax rise which pushed the economy into a recessionary second quarter of contraction through September. Japan’s trade balance rose to a seasonally adjusted -0.93T, from -0.99T in the preceding month whose figure was revised down from -0.98T.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,061.02 | 39.50 | 1.31 |
Hang Seng | 22,585.84 | -84.66 | -0.37 |
Jakarta Composite | 5,035.65 | 9.62 | 0.19 |
KLSE Composite | 1,681.90 | 7.96 | 0.48 |
Nikkei 225 | 16,819.73 | 64.41 | 0.38 |
Straits Times | 3,227.23 | 12.14 | 0.38 |
KOSPI Composite | 1,900.16 | -3.97 | -0.21 |
Taiwan Weighted | 8,828.36 | -122.55 | -1.37 |