The Asian markets closed mostly in green on Monday, as weak China factory activity reinforced views that Beijing will roll out fresh support measures soon for the world’s second-largest economy. Japanese stock exchange was closed today on account of ‘Greenery Day’ holiday while Malaysian stock exchange was closed on account of ‘Wesak Day’ holiday. China’s factories suffered their fastest drop in activity in a year in April as new orders shrank, hardening the case for fresh stimulus measures to halt a slowdown in the world’s second-largest economy. The latest indication of deepening factory woes raises the risk that second-quarter economic growth may dip below 7 percent for the first time since the depths of the global crisis, adding to official fears of job losses and local-level debt defaults. The HSBC/Markit Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) fell to 48.9 in April - the lowest level since April 2014 - from 49.6 in March, as demand faltered and deflationary pressures persisted. Singaporean Unemployment Rate fell to 1.8%, from 1.9% in the preceding quarter. Indonesian Inflation rose to a seasonally adjusted 6.79%, from 6.38% in the preceding month.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 4,480.47 | 38.81 | 0.87 |
Hang Seng | 28,123.82 | -9.18 | -0.03 |
Jakarta Composite | 5,141.14 | 54.71 | 1.08 |
KLSE Composite | - | - | - |
Nikkei 225 | - | - | - |
Straits Times | 3,482.70 | -4.69 | -0.13 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,132.23 | 5.06 | 0.24 |
Taiwan Weighted | 9,845.04 | 24.99 | 0.25 |