Stock markets across the Asian region traded on a frail note on the week’s last trading session as sentiments remained cautious, lacking any significant upside triggers. All major markets in the region traded with a negative bias influenced by the overnight fall in US markets on the back of disappointing economic reports and weakness in commodities. While the weekly initial jobless claims fell more than expected, reports on activity in the US services sector was disappointing and same-store sales for last month also was relatively soft, taking the major indices lower by about half a percent. Meanwhile, the European Central Bank (ECB) too dampened sentiments as on one hand it left its benchmark interest rate unchanged despite worsening growth forecasts for the 17 countries that use the euro, while on the other it indicated that additional stimulus measures were unlikely.
The benchmark in Hong Kong led the losers in the Asian space as it furthered its losing momentum and sank over half a percent as stocks of property developers dragged after scandal-hit Sun Hung Kai Properties halted trading pending an announcement. On the flipside, the Malaysian equity index gained around one third of a percent and remained the top gainer in the space.
Shanghai Composite eased 1.73 points or 0.07% to 2,438.35, Hang Seng Index sank 147.86 points or 0.70% to 21,101.67, Straits Times Index fell 5.58 points or 0.19% to 2,995.36 and KOSPI Composite Index declined 9.73 points or 0.49% to 1,985.38.
Jakarta Composite gained 1.39 points or 0.03% to 4,225.40, KLSE Composite advanced 6.19 points or 0.39% to 1,589.36 and Taiwan Weighted rose 24.76 points or 0.32% to 7,684.29.
Stock markets in Japan remained closed on Friday on account of Greenery day.
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