Asian equity markets ended mixed on Wednesday as another fall in oil prices overnight and the IMF's modest downgrade of its forecasts for global growth kept investors on edge. The IMF downgraded its forecasts for global growth this year and next by just 0.1 percentage point, but warned that more negative outcomes are a distinct possibility as the Brexit vote's impacts play out over time. Chinese shares drifted lower as investors pondered the possibility of further policy stimulus in light of mixed readings on the economic front. Japanese shares snapped a six-day winning streak as the yen fluctuated after touching a one-month low versus the dollar overnight. However, Hong Kong shares finished firmer on Wednesday, as investors eyeing dovish signals from central banks in recent weeks continued to bid up stocks.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,027.90 | -8.70 | -0.29 |
Hang Seng | 21,882.48 | 209.28 | 0.97 |
Jakarta Composite | 5,242.82 | 69.99 | 1.35 |
KLSE Composite | 1,669.61 | -0.94 | -0.06 |
Nikkei 225 | 16,681.89 | -41.42 | -0.25 |
Straits Times | 2,945.74 | 26.20 | 0.90 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,015.46 | -1.43 | -0.07 |
Taiwan Weighted | 9,007.68 | -27.19 | -0.30 |