Asian equity markets ended mostly in green on Tuesday, though some investors stayed on the sidelines ahead of the US Federal Reserve's monetary policy announcement on Wednesday. The Fed's two-day meeting is widely expected to bring the first US interest rate hike this year, which could lure more capital away from emerging markets. Japanese shares ended higher, with support coming from likely buying by the Bank of Japan and as investors snapped up cheaper domestic demand-driven stocks. Further, Chinese shares ended marginally higher as better than expected November retail sales and factory output data encouraged bargain-hunting after the previous session's slump.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,155.04 | 2.07 | 0.07 |
Hang Seng | 22,446.70 | 13.68 | 0.06 |
Jakarta Composite | 5,293.62 | -14.51 | -0.27 |
KLSE Composite | 1,645.28 | 3.86 | 0.24 |
Nikkei 225 | 19,250.52 | 95.49 | 0.50 |
Straits Times | 2,955.23 | 3.04 | 0.10 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,035.98 | 8.74 | 0.43 |
Taiwan Weighted | 9,382.14 | 32.20 | 0.34 |