The Asian equity markets ended mostly in red on Monday, after soft Chinese factory surveys stoked global growth concerns. Activity in China’s manufacturing sector unexpectedly shrank for a third straight month in October, fuelling fears that the economy may be cooling further in the fourth quarter despite a raft of stimulus measures. The official Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) was at 49.8 in October, the same pace as in previous month and lagging market expectations of 50.0. Japanese manufacturing activity in October expanded at the fastest pace in a year as new domestic and export orders increased. The Markit/Nikkei Japan Final Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) rose to a seasonally adjusted 52.4 in October, slightly less than a preliminary reading of 52.5 but a solid improvement from the final reading of 51.0 in September. The index remained above the 50 threshold that separates expansion from contraction for the sixth straight month. October’s performance was the strongest in a year. The findings add to evidence that the world’s third-largest economy is recovering from a dip earlier this year as demand at home and abroad is starting to pick up. Indonesian Inflation fell to a seasonally adjusted 6.25%, from 6.83% in the preceding month. Thai CPI rose to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of -0.77%, from -1.07% in the preceding month.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,325.08 | -57.48 | -1.70 |
Hang Seng | 22,370.04 | -270.00 | -1.19 |
Jakarta Composite | 4,464.96 | 9.78 | 0.22 |
KLSE Composite | 1,664.07 | -1.64 | -0.10 |
Nikkei 225 | 18,683.24 | -399.86 | -2.10 |
Straits Times | 2,974.41 | -23.94 | -0.80 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,035.24 | 5.77 | 0.28 |
Taiwan Weighted | 8,614.77 | 60.46 | 0.71 |