The Asian markets closed mostly in red on Friday, as rising tensions in the Middle East obscured the investment outlook. The World Bank stated that Indonesia must improve logistics and business licensing in its underdeveloped manufacturing sector in order to truly reap the benefits of a stronger US dollar in its export activities. Japan’s retail sales rose to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of -1.8%, from -2.0% in the preceding month. Japan’s National Core CPI fell to a seasonally adjusted 2.0%, from 2.2% in the preceding month. Japanese Household Spending rose to a seasonally adjusted -2.9%, from -5.1% in the preceding month while Tokyo’s core CPI, which excludes fresh food costs remained unchanged at an annualized rate of 2.2%. Japan’s unemployment rate fell last month, the percentage of the total work force that is unemployed and actively seeking employment during the previous month fell to a seasonally adjusted 3.5%, from 3.6% in the preceding month.
Asian Indices Last Trade Change in Points Change in % Shanghai Composite 3,691.10 9.00 0.24 Hang Seng 24,486.20 -10.88 -0.04 Jakarta Composite 5,396.86 28.06 0.52 KLSE Composite 1,813.37 -5.05 -0.28 Nikkei 225 19,285.63 -185.49 -0.95 Straits Times 3,450.10 18.51 0.54 KOSPI Composite 2,019.80 -2.76 -0.14 Taiwan Weighted 9,503.72 -115.40 -1.20