Listless global leads undermine sentiments in Asian markets

05 Mar 2012 Evaluate

Equity indices in Asian region exhibited weakness in the fresh week’s first trading session as sentiments largely remained dismal, lacking any significant upside triggers to take the markets higher. Sentiments from over the weekend US markets too were disappointing as the equity indices there went out of steam to settle with notable losses. Investors in the region shunned riskier assets like equities as buying appetite began to wane as the lingering Euro-zone crisis showed little signs of getting resolved amid grim global economic outlook.

The benchmarks in China traded on a flat note as investors remained in a limbo after getting contrasting picture of activity in the nation’s service sector. On one hand, an official report from the government showed the sector contracted to 48.4 in February from 52.9 in January while on the other, a private survey showed China's services sector expanded at its fastest clip in four months in February. Meanwhile, Chinese Premier in his speech vowed to boost domestic consumption to keep the economy expanding. The equity index in South Korea plunged about a percent following weak global leads as investors took to position squaring ahead of options expiry.

Shanghai Composite eased 1.40 points or 0.06% to 2,459.29, Hang Seng plummeted 222.05 points or 1.03% to 21,340.21, Jakarta Composite fell 9.49 points or 0.24% to 3,995.38, Nikkei 225 slipped 25.36 points or 0.26% to 9,751.67, Straits Times shed 7.33 points or 0.24% to 2,986.16, Seoul Composite sank 18.49 points or 0.91% to 2,016.14 and Taiwan Weighted plunged 94.27 points or 1.16% to 8,020.17.

On the other hand only KLSE Composite gained 5.21 points or 0.33% to 1,588.99.

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