Asian equities in fine fettle on upbeat US factory data

03 Apr 2012 Evaluate

Stock markets across the Asian region largely hovered in the positive territory on Tuesday as most markets furthered their positive momentum after gaining some ground in the previous session. Market participants largely remained influenced by the overnight upmove on Wall Street on the back of solid US factory activity report which signaled that an Institute for Supply Management gauge measuring strength in manufacturing sector rose to 53.4% last month from 52.4% in February. The data which was over the 50% mark indicating more manufacturers are expanding, helped countered concern over reports that European unemployment rose to a 14-year high in February and manufacturing contracted for an eighth month in March.

Most equity indices in the region traded on a positive note with the Indonesian and South Korean markets being the leading gainers after surging around a percent. However, the benchmark in Japan failed to extend the upmove and slipped by about half a percent as export oriented stocks dragged, after yen’s appreciation against the US dollar dented the earnings outlook for the country’s exporters.

Meanwhile, markets in mainland China will remain closed for a three day public holiday starting Monday on account of Qingming Festival and will reopen on Thursday. Stock markets in Hong Kong will remain closed on Wednesday and Friday.

Hang Seng gained 95.30 points or 0.46% to 20,617.56, Jakarta Composite surged 47.07 points or 1.13% to 4,213.14, KLSE Composite rose 3.08 points or 0.19% to 1,606.86, Straits Times added 4.21 points or 0.14% to 3,020.28 and Seoul Composite soared 18.89 points or 0.93% to 2,048.18.

On the flipside, Nikkei 225 dropped 41.68 points or 0.41% to 10,068.19 and Taiwan Weighted sank 65.66 points or 0.84% to 7,797.24.

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