The Asian markets ended mostly lower on Friday, led by losses in Hong Kong stocks ahead of crucial US jobs data due tonight that could strengthen the case for the Federal Reserve to raise rates by the year-end. Chinese shares dropped as losses in the infrastructure sector overshadowed gains among financials in the wake of well-received earnings updates from banks and brokerages. Meanwhile, Japanese shares ended higher as the yen breached the 105 level and solid results from German bank Deutsche Bank as well as gains in the US and Japanese government bond yields lifted financials.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,104.27 | -8.08 | -0.26 |
Hang Seng | 22,954.81 | -177.54 | -0.77 |
Jakarta Composite | 5,410.27 | -6.57 | -0.12 |
KLSE Composite | 1,670.27 | 1.24 | 0.07 |
Nikkei 225 | 17,446.41 | 109.99 | 0.63 |
Straits Times | 2,816.26 | -12.68 | -0.45 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,019.42 | -4.70 | -0.23 |
Taiwan Weighted | 9,306.92 | 7.37 | 0.08 |