The Asian markets closed mostly in green on Thursday, as investors noted that Federal Reserve has moved to clarify the terms of a widely expected rate hike this year. Chinese cabinet stated that the country will make flexible use of its monetary policy tools to support the economy and employment. The state council added that policymakers will also increase targeted adjustments to policy to bolster growth in the world’s second-largest economy. Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association stated that demand for new cars, trucks and buses is expected to fall 5.4 per cent to 4.99 million vehicles in the fiscal year ending in March 2016. That would mark a second straight year of declines, as car sales continue to suffer from the hangover of a sales take hike in April last year. Japan’s All Industries Activity Index rose to a seasonally adjusted 1.9%, from -0.1% in the preceding month whose figure was revised up from -0.3%.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai | 3,582.27 | 4.97 | 0.14 |
Hang Seng | 24,468.89 | 348.81 | 1.45 |
Jakarta Composite | 5,453.85 | 40.70 | 0.75 |
KLSE Composite | 1,809.13 | 11.56 | 0.64 |
Nikkei 225 | 19,476.56 | -67.92 | -0.35 |
Straits Times | 3,386.16 | 24.41 | 0.73 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,037.89 | 9.44 | 0.47 |
Taiwan Weighted | 9,736.37 | 83.30 | 0.86 |