Asian markets closed mostly in red on Monday, while Shanghai surged after official data indicated a pick-up in Chinese manufacturing activity in May. Singapore’s Straits Times was closed today on account of ‘Vesak Day’ holiday. Growth in China’s giant factory sector edged up to a six-month high in May but export demand shrank again, prompting companies to shed jobs and keeping alive worries about a protracted economic slowdown. In a sign that China’s worst downturn in at least six years is hurting its services companies, too, a similar survey showed growth in that sector slipped to a low not seen in more than five years. The official manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) edged up to 50.2 from April’s 50.1. Indonesian Inflation rose to a seasonally adjusted 7.15%, from 6.79% in the preceding month. Japanese manufacturing activity expanded in May for the first time in two months as domestic orders and output rose, suggesting the economy may be grinding higher again after faltering in April. The Markit/JMMA final Japan Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) rose to a seasonally adjusted 50.9 in May, unchanged from the preliminary reading but higher than a final 49.9 in April.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 4,828.74 | 216.99 | 4.71 |
Hang Seng | 27,597.16 | 172.97 | 0.63 |
Jakarta Composite | 5,213.82 | -2.56 | -0.05 |
KLSE Composite | 1,743.41 | -4.11 | -0.24 |
Nikkei 225 | 20,569.87 | 6.72 | 0.03 |
Straits Times | - | - | - |
KOSPI Composite | 2,102.37 | -12.43 | -0.59 |
Taiwan Weighted | 9,625.69 | -75.38 | -0.78 |