Asian equity markets showed a mixed closing on Friday despite Wall Street stocks hitting fresh record highs overnight on data showing US labor market strength and the ECB's announcement of changes to the parameters of the asset purchase program. Investors looked ahead to next week's Federal Reserve meeting amid bets that the US central bank will raise interest rates for the first time in a year. Japanese stocks rose to their highest level in a year, supported by Wall Street gains and solid buying of exporters on the back of a weaker yen. Meanwhile, China stocks ended higher after a government report showed consumer inflation in the country picked up for a third straight month in November on signs of improving demand. Consumer prices rose an annual 2.3 percent, exceeding expectations for 2.2 percent and up from 2.1 percent in October. The producer price index surged 3.3 percent from a year earlier, the fastest pace in more than five years. Though, Seoul shares snapped a three-day winning streak as lawmakers prepared to vote on the possible impeachment of President Park Geun-hye, who has been engulfed in a massive corruption and influence-peddling scandal.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,232.88 | 17.52 | 0.54 |
Hang Seng | 22,760.98 | -100.86 | -0.44 |
Jakarta Composite | 5,308.13 | 4.39 | 0.08 |
KLSE Composite | 1,641.42 | -2.33 | -0.14 |
Nikkei 225 | 18,996.37 | 230.90 | 1.23 |
Straits Times | 2,956.13 | -2.73 | -0.09 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,024.69 | -6.38 | -0.31 |
Taiwan Weighted | 9,392.68 | 16.82 | 0.18 |