Asian equity markets ended mostly in red on Wednesday, with Japanese shares closed slightly lower in choppy trade as a modest uptick in the yen overshadowed overnight advances in US stocks and the government's upbeat assessment of the domestic economy. The government has upgraded its assessment of the Japanese economy for the first time since March 2015, citing a pickup in private consumption and exports. Oil prices nudged higher to trade above $53 a barrel in Asian deals after API data showed US stockpiles declined last week. The EIA report due out later in the day is also expected to show a draw of 2.5 million barrels in the week ending December 16. Chinese shares ended higher as liquidity worries eased and the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission pledged to deepen reforms in state-owned sectors.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,137.43 | 34.55 | 1.11 |
Hang Seng | 21,809.80 | 80.74 | 0.37 |
Jakarta Composite | 5,111.39 | -51.08 | -0.99 |
KLSE Composite | 1,629.59 | -4.93 | -0.3 |
Nikkei 225 | 19,444.49 | -50.04 | -0.26 |
Straits Times | 2,901.70 | -9.61 | -0.33 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,037.96 | -3.98 | -0.19 |
Taiwan Weighted | 9,204.26 | -38.15 | -0.41 |