The Asian equity benchmarks ended mostly in green on Tuesday, while Chinese stocks fell for the first time in six days, led by financial and commodity companies, after industrial profits slumped. Japan’s exports grew the most in a year in December, helped by a weak yen and a pick-up in overseas demand led by the United States, an encouraging sign for the recession-hit economy even as doubts persist about the strength of global consumption. The 12.9% year-on-year rise in exports marked a fourth straight month of growth, supported by shipments of cars to the United States and of electronics parts to China. A recovery in exports, which has been a soft spot in the world’s third-largest economy, could be a source of comfort for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who is battling to re-kindle growth after an April sales tax hike drove Japan into a recession. Imports rose less than expected, leaving Japan with a trade deficit for a record 30th month in a row. Japan’s (corporate services price index) CSPI remained unchanged at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.6%, from 3.6% in the preceding month. Singaporean Industrial Production rose to an annual rate of -1.9%, from -2.1% in the preceding month whose figure was revised up from -2.8%.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,352.96 | -30.22 | -0.89 |
Hang Seng | 24,807.28 | -102.62 | -0.41 |
Jakarta Composite | 5,277.15 | 17.12 | 0.33 |
KLSE Composite | 1,803.17 | 6.73 | 0.37 |
Nikkei 225 | 17,768.30 | 299.78 | 1.72 |
Straits Times | 3,412.20 | 13.68 | 0.40 |
KOSPI Composite | 1,952.40 | 16.72 | 0.86 |
Taiwan Weighted | 9,521.59 | 43.92 | 0.46 |