The Asian markets closed mostly in green on Tuesday, following another record close in US markets. Chinese policymakers announced guidelines for reform priorities in 2015, ranging from streamlining administrative procedures to boosting the yuan’s global role, as Beijing steps up efforts to open up the country's capital markets. The Bank of Japan is expected to expand its already-massive stimulus programme in October, even though Governor Haruhiko Kuroda has repeatedly stated that there is no need to do so. In April 2013 the BOJ pledged to achieve 2 percent inflation in about two years, after decades of deflation or very small price rises, unleashing a multi-trillion yen asset purchase programme. The central bank revised its goal last month and now expects inflation to reach 2 percent by April-September 2016. Japan’s Core Machinery Orders rose to 2.9%, from -0.4% in the preceding month. Hong Kong unemployment rate was 3.2% for the three months ended April 2015, down from 3.3% recorded between January and March. The underemployment rate also dropped to 1.3% in February-April from 1.4% in January-March. Total employment fell 8,800 to 3.792 million in the period. The labor force also shrank from 3.928 million to 3.919 million.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 4,417.55 | 134.06 | 3.13 |
Hang Seng | 27,693.54 | 102.29 | 0.37 |
Jakarta Composite | 5,269.37 | 31.56 | 0.60 |
KLSE Composite | 1,809.72 | -13.78 | -0.76 |
Nikkei 225 | 20,026.38 | 136.11 | 0.68 |
Straits Times | 3,454.04 | -5.53 | -0.16 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,120.85 | 7.13 | 0.34 |
Taiwan Weighted | 9,716.77 | 110.67 | 1.15 |