Asian equity markets ended mostly lower on Wednesday as traders trod water ahead of a key speech by Federal Reserve boss Janet Yellen this week, while oil suffered fresh losses on persistent glut worries. With speculation growing that US interest rates could rise by the end of the year, Yellen's comments at a global central bankers meeting in Jackson Hole Friday will be scoured for forward guidance on US central bank policy. Chinese shares dropped as fresh liquidity injection from China's central bank through reverse purchase agreements dashed hopes for policy easing. However, Japanese shares rose as the yen traded relatively weaker against the dollar and investors shrugged off North Korea's submarine missile launch. Japan's Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, said the latest missile launch was ‘unforgivable’ and posed a grave threat to Japan's security.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,085.88 | -3.83 | -0.12 |
Hang Seng | 22,820.78 | -178.15 | -0.77 |
Jakarta Composite | 5,403.99 | -13.15 | -0.24 |
KLSE Composite | 1,682.06 | -1.01 | -0.06 |
Nikkei 225 | 16,597.30 | 99.94 | 0.61 |
Straits Times | 2,869.57 | 19.14 | 0.67 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,043.76 | -6.17 | -0.30 |
Taiwan Weighted | 9,017.38 | -13.55 | -0.15 |