Asian stocks ended mixed on Tuesday as the oil price volatility ahead of Wednesday's OPEC meeting and concerns over Sunday's referendum in Italy kept investors' appetite in check. Market jitters over whether producer cartel OPEC would be able to hammer out a meaningful output cut during a meeting on Wednesday, aimed at reining in a global supply overhang, sending oil and gas stocks lower throughout the Asia on Tuesday. With Brexit causing economic uncertainty and Europe bracing for major elections in France and Germany, European Central Bank president Mario Draghi on Monday warned that a long period of low interest rates has created 'fertile terrain' for financial-market risks. Japanese stocks dropped as stronger yen hurt sentiments and insurers took a breather from recent gains, despite the release of Japanese government data hinting at stabilization in domestic demand. Japan's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was steady in October at 3 percent, the same level as August. Meanwhile, Chinese stocks ended higher on optimism that the Chinese economy will show further signs of recovery in November.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,282.92 | 5.92 | 0.18 |
Hang Seng | 22,737.07 | -93.50 | -0.41 |
Jakarta Composite | 5,136.67 | 22.10 | 0.43 |
KLSE Composite | 1,626.93 | -1.73 | -0.11 |
Nikkei 225 | 18,307.04 | -49.85 | -0.27 |
Straits Times | 2,879.14 | 4.49 | 0.16 |
KOSPI Composite | 1,978.39 | 0.26 | 0.01 |
Taiwan Weighted | 9,192.38 | -29.86 | -0.32 |