The Asian equity markets ended mostly in green on Wednesday, with investors eyeing the start of earnings season after a tough quarter for many companies. Hong Kong stock exchange was closed on account of ‘Chung Yeung Day’ holiday. Japan’s trade deficit in September was a worse than forecast 114.48 trillion yen ($95 billion) as exports slowed, especially to China. The trade data released showed exports rose only 0.6 percent from the year before to 6.42 trillion yen (53 billion) while imports fell 11 percent, to 6.53 trillion yen ($54 billion). Japan’s trade balance has improved with the fall in prices of crude oil and other fuels. In September, imports of oil, gas and coal fell 36 percent from the year before. The trade deficit in September of 2014 was 961.98 billion yen. In August, it was 569 billion yen ($4.8 billion). Japan’s All Industries Activity Index fell to a seasonally adjusted -0.2%, from -0.1% in the preceding month whose figure was revised down from 0.2%. Japan’s trade balance rose to a seasonally adjusted -0.36T, from -0.37T in the preceding month whose figure was revised down from -0.36T. Singapore’s annual consumer prices are forecast to have contracted for the 11th consecutive month, pressured by persistently lower prices of car permits and housing costs. The all-items consumer price index (CPI) was seen down 0.7 percent in September on a year-on-year basis. In August, headline CPI fell 0.8 percent, the steepest drop since late 2009.
Asian Indices Last Trade Change in Points Change in % Shanghai Composite 3,320.68 -104.65 -3.06 Hang Seng - - - Jakarta Composite 4,605.23 19.40 0.42 KLSE Composite 1,707.11 2.08 0.12 Nikkei 225 18,554.28 347.13 1.91 Straits Times 3,025.70 6.67 0.22 KOSPI Composite 2,042.98 3.62 0.18 Taiwan Weighted 9,845.04 24.99 0.25