Asian markets ended higher on Friday, as a firmer finish on Wall Street, oil's overnight gains, a weakening yen and soothing comments by Chinese authorities over the state of the economy and chances of more stimulus, helped prop up investor confidence, heading into the G20 finance ministers' meeting in Shanghai. Japanese shares ended higher as the yen retreated to the lower 113 range and tepid consumer price inflation data added pressure on the Bank of Japan to expand its massive monetary stimulus program. Chinese shares ended higher after tumbling as much as 6.4 percent on Thursday on fears of tighter liquidity and the cooling economy. Sentiment received a boost after China's central bank governor Zhou Xiaochuan said the country has more room to cushion the economy and that there is no reason for yuan to fall persistently.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 2,767.21 | 25.96 | 0.95 |
Hang Seng | 19,364.15 | 475.40 | 2.52 |
Jakarta Composite | 4,733.15 | 74.83 | 1.61 |
KLSE Composite | 1,663.44 | 5.28 | 0.32 |
Nikkei 225 | 16,188.41 | 48.07 | 0.30 |
Straits Times | 2,649.38 | 45.98 | 1.77 |
KOSPI Composite | 1,920.16 | 1.59 | 0.08 |
Taiwan Weighted | 8,411.16 | 45.30 | 0.54 |