Asian equities retract as US Fed’s reluctance on QE3 undermines sentiments

04 Apr 2012 Evaluate

Stock markets across the Asian region moved back on Wednesday as market participants chose to take some profits off the table after the notable rise in last two sessions. Markets in the region got off to a miserable start with most of the indices trading in red as sentiments remained influenced by the pessimistic leads from overnight Wall Street. Equity indices globally got pounded after US Federal Reserve minutes showed that the central bankers remained reluctant to the idea of employing more stimulus measures to spur the economy unless the US economic expansion falters or prices rise at a rate slower than its 2 percent target.

The benchmark in Japan remained the top laggard in the space as it got pummeled by around one and half a percent and drifted below the psychological 10,000 levels amid reports that Japan's biggest opposition party said it will reject Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda's central bank nominee. Meanwhile, markets in mainland China and Hong Kong remained closed on Wednesday on account of Qingming Festival while the Taiwanese markets were shut owing to Tomb Sweeping Day holiday.

Jakarta Composite sank 31.71 points or 0.75% to 4,183.73, KLSE Composite declined 4.35 points or 0.27% to 1,602.28, Nikkei 225 plunged 139.55 points or 1.39% to 9,910.84, Straits Times slipped 11.48 points or 0.38% to 3,003.50 and Seoul Composite slumped 19.70 points or 0.96% to 2,029.58.

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