The Asian markets ended mostly in green on Friday, reversing some early losses, as investors weighed price increases in China and the possibility of a US interest rate hike later in the year. Asian shares received a boost from a relatively weaker Japanese yen against the dollar. Japan equities ended higher as gains in the Chemical, Petroleum & Plastic, Mining and Communication sectors propelled shares higher. Meanwhile, China stock ended little changed as investors wrestled with mixed economic reports ahead of third-quarter GDP data next week that will shed more light on the health of the economy. Trade data on Thursday showed exports fell more than expected in September while imports unexpectedly shrank, raising doubts about whether recent stabilization in the economy may be short-lived. Inflation data on Friday, however, showed producer and consumer prices had picked up.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,063.81 | 2.46 | 0.08 |
Hang Seng | 23,233.31 | 202.01 | 0.88 |
Jakarta Composite | 5,399.88 | 59.48 | 1.11 |
KLSE Composite | 1,658.97 | -6.05 | -0.36 |
Nikkei 225 | 16,856.37 | 82.13 | 0.49 |
Straits Times | 2,815.24 | 9.76 | 0.35 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,022.66 | 7.22 | 0.36 |
Taiwan Weighted | 9,165.17 | -54.00 | -0.59 |